Experimental study of the pseudo spark-produced electron beam for material processing

The pseudospark-produced electron beam has been experimentally investigated. The measurements of spatial current distribution for free-running mode (/spl sim/100 Hz) showed spatial instabilities of the beam propagation. The effect of dielectric channel used for the stabilization of the beam propagation was studied. The beam interaction with metal targets was investigated, and a substantial part (about 50%) of the beam current was found to be reflected from the target inclined at an angle of 30-60/spl deg/ with respect to the beam axis.