Vacuum insulation and discharge phenomena in high-power devices with magnetic confinement of electron flow

Results of the experimental investigation of processes determining vacuum insulation maintenance and discharge phenomena in high-power crossed-field and electron-beam devices are presented. Data from crossed-field devices on accumulation and steady-state parameters of the space charge between cold cathode and anode, spatial, temporal and energy characteristics of electron flows onto surrounding electrodes are given. Techniques of gun breakdown prevention and formation of a dense nonrelativistic long-pulsed electron beams with energy density /spl les/100 kJ/cm/sup 2/ are described, as well as the effect of RF discharge development on the beam transport in this system. Models of observed phenomena considering the effect of nonuniform electromagnetic fields, oscillatory processes and generation of secondary particles accompanying electron bombardment of electrodes are also proposed.