Experimental investigation of focusing and transportation of high-current electron beams

Recent investigations showed that high current REB's may be effectively focused in the accelerating gap of a diode [1,2]. Achieved values of the electron-beam energy density have permitted model experiments on the implosion of spherical shells for compression and heating of D-T pellets up to fusion conditions [2,3,4]. The realization of pellet ignition according to such a scheme may be accompanied by the destruction of the diode. Therefore it is preferable to focus the electron beam on the target placed at a sufficient distance from a diode. However, until now, the necessary beam focusing in a drift space has not been achieved.