Electrostatic Cumulation at Relativistic Energies

Abstract

The electrostatic cumulation of current density in relativistic vacuum diodes with ring-type cathodes is described theoretically and confirmed experimentally. The distinctive feature of the suggested cumulation mechanism is a very low energy spread of electrons. As a result of electrostatic cumulation, a thin relativistic electron beam with a current density of 1 kA/mm2 can be formed.