Calculation of pinched beam formation and target interaction

The dynamics of electron beams in large aspect ratio diodes is discussed. The role of plasma production and ion emission from anode targets is demonstrated by CIC calculations. The collapse of a hollow beam in the pinch process is simulated. The interaction of the pinched beam with a solid target is also calculated. Energy deposition is determined by the Monte Carlo method and the hydrodynamic expansion is calculated by the two dimensional particle-in-cell method. Bremsstrahlung emission is also calculated through the use of the Monte Carlo method. Self-magnetic-field effects are taken into account. It is found that the self-magnetic-field forces can considerably reduce the number of electrons escaping from the focal region by back-or side-scattering. The possibility of detecting self-magnetic-field effects by the bremsstrahlung angular distribution is discussed.