Electron beam characteristic of multi-gap pseudospark discharge system

A triggered multi-gap pseudo-spark discharge system (TPDS) is designed and fabricated. The TPDS has ten gaps. The TPDS has been operated up to 35 kV at 60 mTorr of Ar gas. The peak beam current extracted from the anode electrode is measured as a function of external capacitance. The external capacitance is varied from 1 nF to 10 nF. The maximum peak beam current is obtained with 1 nF external capacitance. A typical pulse duration of the electron beam is 30 ns. The density of the electron beam is also investigated by using a spectroscopic measurement. The principle of space charge neutralization is adopted for the electron beam density analysis. The measured value of the electron beam density is about 2.5/spl times/10/sup 16/ cm/sup -3/ with an experimental condition of 1 nF external capacitance, 35 kV charging voltage, and 60 mTorr of He gas.