The amplitude and current pulse duration of a supershort avalanche electron beam in air at atmospheric pressure

The results of experimental studies of the parameters (amplitude and duration) of a supershort avalanche electron beam (SAEB) generated in air at atmospheric pressure are presented. The performed studies of the SAEB current amplitude and pulse duration have shown that the optimization of the gap h between the wires and the rear wall of the wires cathode and a decrease in the total cathode thickness allow an increase in the number of beam electrons behind the foil. The largest number of electrons that was detected behind the 10 μm thick Al foil at h ~1.5 mm was 6.2 × 10¹⁰, which corresponds to an SAEB amplitude of ~100 A at a triangle-pulse FWHM duration of 100 ps.