Operating regimes of a constricted arc discharge in a forevacuum-pressure, plasma-cathode electron source of pulsed large-radius electron beams

Abstract

We have investigated the operating regimes of a pulsed constricted arc discharge in a forevacuum plasma-cathode electron source of large-radius electron beams. The configuration of the intermediate electrode (IE) with a constricting channel (CC) determines the maximum parameters (current and pulse duration) and operating regimes of the constricted arc. An IE with ceramic (aluminum nitride) CC and an IE with sectional tantalum CC, formed by several electrically insulated tantalum disks with co-axial holes, lead to an increase in the maximum parameters compared to an IE with metal CC. In particular, an IE with sectional tantalum CC provides the highest maximum parameters. The ceramic and sectional tantalum constricting channels also provide lower minimum pressure for which the constricted arc operates stably. When the pressure reaches a certain threshold value, which depends on arc current, a discharge system with IE with sectional tantalum CC provides stable operation for pulse duration up to 10 ms. An increase in pressure provides higher discharge current in the millisecond regime of the discharge operation. When the arc current reaches threshold values from 84 to 92 A (depending on gas pressure), a self-compressed (pinched) mode of operation of the constricted arc occurs. The pinched arc regime is characterized by the highest current and the longest pulse duration. The forevacuum electron source based on the constricted arc discharge with IE with sectional tantalum CC offers generation of low-energy (up to 8 keV) electron beam with current up to tens of amperes and pulse duration up to 10 ms.