Investigation, simulation and first measurements of a 2 m long electron column trapped in a Gabor-Lens device

Abstract

Various Gabor-Lenses (GL) were investigated at Goethe University. Confinements of sufficient electron densities (ne ∼ 1 · 1015 m3) were reached without any external source of electrons. Focusing of ion beams by low energy was demonstrated, long term stability and reproducibility were approved. Main differences compared to experiments and investigations of the pure non-neutral in Penning-Malmberg traps [1] are higher residual gas pressure and therefore higher collision rates, higher bulk temperatures, self-sustaining electron production process, much higher evaporation cooling rate. GL2000 is a new 2 m long device and was mainly designed for focusing of ion beams in energy ranges up to GeV but also for investigation of non-neutral plasma parameters. The confined electron column is much longer compared to previous constructed Lenses. This makes ion and hadron beam focussing much more efficient, in addition new physical phenomena can be expected and investigated. Simulation results of steady-and thermal equilibrium states with various external parameters and first measurements will be presented. The first operational tests show that it is possible to confine a two-meter long electron column.