Optimum conditions of the runaway electron beam generation during a uniform gas breakdown

Abstract

It was shown that a uniform breakdown of a gas gap must be accompanied by the Stoletov effect, i.e., a current maximum in pressure at a given voltage pulse. Analogues of the Stoletov constant were calculated for the pulsed non-self-sustained discharge in various gases. These constants also determine the minimum breakdown delay time. It was shown that the maximum current of the electron beam generated in the gas-filled diode is reached at a pressure corresponding to the maximum current and for an electrode spacing corresponding to the electron drift length during the pulse.