A simple high-repetitive-rate pulsed electron-beam source

The paper describes a simple pulsed electron beam source based on a sealed-off vacuum tube with a liquid-metal cathode and a foil anode, capable of operating with a pulse repetition rate of up to 1 kHz. An original approach to the starting of the voltage pulse generator embodied in this system makes it possible to produce stable beam current pulses of duration 20-30 ns and amplitude up to 500 A in the diode and up to 250 A for the beam extracted into the air with the operating voltage 80-90 kV. The range of operating voltages of the source is 60-120 kV. This source can also be used to produce X-radiation. A possible application of the source is presented: the excitation of a nonself-sustained atmospheric-pressure space discharge by an electron flow and X-radiation.