Self-consistent Vlasov equilibria for intense hollow relativistic electron beams

Abstract

This paper discusses the procedure for constructing intense hollow relativistic electron beam equilibria within the framework of the steady-state (∂/∂t = 0) Vlasov–Maxwell equations. It is assumed that the electron beam propagates parallel to a uniform axial guide field Bext0 = B0 êz inside a grounded cylindrical conductor, and that the positive ions provide a partially neutralizing background with density n0i(r) = fn0e(r), where f = const. = fractional neutralization. The equilibrium properties are calculated for the specific choice of electron distribution function , where H, Pθ, and Pz are the energy, canonical angular momentum, and axialcanonical momentum, respectively, for an electron moving in the equilibrium fields, and , and P0 are constants. For this choice of distribution function, the mean axial velocity of the electron beam is equal to , and the beam density profile is hollow with inner and outer radii, R0 and R1, determined self-consistently from nonlinear boundary conditions that involve the equilibrium parameters Po, γb, γ0, etc., and the equilibrium self fields. Closed expressions for Ro and B1 are obtained for the case where the collisionless skin depth c/ωpe is large in comparison with the characteristic radius of the electron beam, and the beam density is sufficiently low that . The two cases, Po>0 and Po<0, are considered.