Fast Rise Time High Current Electron Beam: Emission, Acceleration, and Drift Motion

Fast processes associated with emission, acceleration, and drift motion of a high current, moderately magnetized electron beam (particles energy ~300 keV; current ~3 kA) were studied experimentally when tubular explosive-emission cathode was supplied by subnanosecond rise time voltage pulse. Kinematic effect causes the sharpening of the observed beam front which was proven by particle-in-cell numerical modeling. The angular structure of tubular beam was studied through the current waveform records from collector probe after beam propagation through a radial-slit collimator. Current waveforms had time resolution no worse than 10 ps and provided the analysis of the beam temporal structure after its acceleration as well as in the process of further electrons drift motion in a finite guiding magnetic field.