The pinch effect in pulsed streams at relativistic energies

Abstract

Using a recently developed machine, 3.5 MV electrons in 30,000 A, 30 nsec pulses diverging at a half-angle of 5° have been projected through a 2 cm diameter area of 0.05 mn metal foil and upon the end of a 50,000 A linear pinch discharge in argon. The self-magnetic fields of the linear discharge and of the injected beam pinch the relativistic beam and deliver the 3000 joules of pulse energy to a 0.6 cm diameter spot on a metal target on the far end of the pinch tube at distances of more than 160 cm. The reverse current induced in the ionized linear pinch column by the passage of the relativistic pulse is equal or nearly equal and opposite to the injected current, as anticipated theoretically, and the reduction in radius due to the pinch effect also agrees with theory.