Vacuum arc electron source for pre-ionizing Z-pinch gas loads

Summary form only given. We report the development of a new type of intense electron source based on vacuum arc technology. The primary application of this source is to pre-ionize gas jets used as z-pinch loads. We have designed and fabricated a 1 kA, 10 kV, 6 cm diameter electron source. The source will be used to ionize a gas puff. Using our 2-color, 8-channel fiber optic interferometer, the gas and the electron density profiles are measured and the ratios of the neutral to the electron densities are determined. Details of the electron source will be reported.