High-density plasma low energy electron gun based on vacuum arc in a strong magnetic field

This paper presents the results of a study of a plasma-emitter electron gun based on an arc discharge operating in the cathode material vapor in a strong magnetic field. With an accelerating voltage of up to 20 kV and a pressure of the order of 10/sup -6/ Torr a 70 A electron beam with an emission current of 40 A/cm/sup 2/ and a pulse duration of 100 /spl mu/s has been produced. Using an external magnetic field, compression of the electron beam in the transportation channel filled with plasma has been accomplished and a current density of 140 A/cm/sup 2/ has been achieved with a beam diameter of 0.8 cm. The current passage efficiency was /spl sim/90%.