Neutralization of long and short pulse ion beams

Abstract

The results of computer simulations of time-dependent charge and current neutralization of high-current ion beams by cold electrons emitted from a plane to a half-space are presented. The cases of long and short injected ion pulses with sharp and linear current risetimes are considered. It is shown that the system of cold electrons and ions passes to the same steady state independently of the initial and boundary conditions. The results are of interest in connection with the application of ion beams in inertial fusion research. >