Performance of a cathode mounted plasma injection source on the UNM long-pulse BWO

Summary form only given. The studies conducted with the cathode mounted plasma source have been performed at the University of New Mexico (UNM) on the UNM long-pulse BWO experiment. The BWO is driven by a modified Physics International Pulserad 110A electron beam accelerator, which can provide intense relativistic beams for the BWO having energies of 200/spl sim/500 kV at currents of 1.5/spl sim/4.0 kA with pulse durations of 500/spl sim/600 ns. Data describing plasma prefill density at different axial positions within the BWO prior to operation will be presented. A comparison will then be made of BWO performance with and without the prefill plasma. Details of the novel plasma injection system will also be presented.