Focusing intense electron beams using a positive space charge cloud plasma lens

Abstract

An original plasma-optical device for focusing and manipulating negatively charged particle beams by a dynamic cloud of non-magnetized free positive ions and magnetically isolated electrons produced by a toroidal plasma source such as an anode layer thruster has recently been proposed and explored. In such systems, the electrons are separated from the ions by the relatively strong magnetic field in the discharge channel. The accelerated ions are weakly affected by the magnetic field, owing to their mass. Here, we describe the current status of ongoing research and development of a wide-aperture electrostatic plasma lens with a positive space charge cloud for focusing and manipulating large-area, high-current electron beams. The new modified magnetic system was simulated, designed and tested for minimal aberrations. In this work, we present new simulation results of the further lens development.