Experimental test of focusing electrodes on repetitively pulsed MILO cathodes

Summary form only given. Experimental and computer simulation results on a magnetically insulated transmission line oscillator (MILO) have indicated that the large beam current density emitted from each end of the cathode leads to anode plasma formation. Recent computer simulations (Haworth et al., 2002) have shown that implementation of the miniature Pierce focusing electrode concept of Umstattd et al. (2000) can dramatically reduce the beam current density at both ends of the cathode. We report on preliminary experimental tests of this focusing electrode concept using a polymer velvet MILO cathode driven at 1 Hz by 500 kV, 5 /spl Omega/, 50-ns pulses.