Repetitive high current density pseudospark-produced ion beams

Abstract

A multigap pseudospark device filled with hydrogen or argon gas is operated up to 20 kV and ejected ion beam characteristics are experimentally investigated. The ion beam of peak current density in excess of ∼500 A/cm2 and pulse duration ∼50 ns is extracted at repetitive frequency of several tens of Hz. Results of the scaling study for the ion beam current with breakdown voltage, external capacitance, and number of insulator gaps are presented.