Measurement of Parameters of Particle Beams Generated by High-Voltage Surface Vacuum Discharge in Coaxial and Linear Electrode Geometry

The results of the measurement of the parameters of particle beams generated by a high-voltage nanosecond anode-initiated surface vacuum discharge are presented in this paper. Pulses with voltages of up to 120 kV with rise times of 20 ns are applied to coaxial and linear electrodes on polytetrafluoroethylene samples. The discharge current and the current of the ionic component of a particle beam are measured. In addition, the thrust pulse and the directional pattern of the beam are defined. It is shown that the directional pattern is narrower and the ionic current is higher when the coaxial electrode geometry is used instead of linear configuration, whereas the most probable speed of ions remains the same.