Application of a Plasma Anode in the Electron Beam Source with an Explosive Emission Cathode and Electron Beam Output into the Atmosphere

Abstract: The results of experiments on the generation of high-power microsecond electron beams in an electron beam source with an explosive-emission cathode, a plasma anode, and output of an electron beam through a foil window into the atmosphere are presented. The beam is formed and transported in the presence of a longitudinal magnetic field. The power source is a Marx generator with matched loads and with a rectangular waveform of the output voltage pulse. At an accelerating voltage of 200–220 kV, in an electron beam source, the electron beams with a current of up to 2.5–3 kA, a cross section of 100–200 cm 2 , and a duration of 5 µs are obtained without ignition of the arc discharge in the interelectrode gap. The possibility to realize operation modes of an electron beam source without beam rotation is demonstrated. The energy released on the beam collector with a receiving surface area of 74 cm 2 , located in the electron source behind the anode, is up to ~ 600–700 J/pulse. The beam energy extracted outside of the foil is registered with calorimeters and equals to ~ 250–270 J/pulse.