Relativistic electron beam source with uniform high-density emitters by pulsed power generators

Abstract

AbstractThe remaining challenges, confronting high-power microwave sources and pulsed power technology, stimulate the development of robust relativistic electron beam sources. This paper presents a carbon-fiber-aluminum cathode with high-density uniform emitters, which was tested in a single pulsed power generator (~450 kV, ~350 ns, ~50 Ω) and a repetitive one (350 kV, <10 ns, 150 Ω, and 100 Hz). The distribution and development of the cathode plasma was observed by time-and-space resolved diagnostics, and the uniformity of electron beam density was checked by taking x-ray images. A quasi-stationary behavior of the cathode plasma expansion was observed. It was found that the uniformity of the extracted electron beam is satisfactory in spite of individual plasma jets on the cathode surface. Under repetitively pulsed operation, this cathode exhibited a good shot-to-shot reproducibility even in poor vacuum. This new class of plasma cathodes offers a promising prospect of developing relativistic electron beam sources.