Parameters of Plasma Ion Flows Produced by a Short Electron Beam at a Dielectric Surface

The parameters of the plasma generated due to the interaction of an accelerated electron flow on the surface of a dielectric were investigated. The electron flow was produced in an explosive-emission diode on application of a voltage pulse of duration 3 ns and amplitude 150 kV. As a result of the experiment, flows of carbon ions with up to $4+$ charges, as well as hydrogen and deuterium ions were detected. The hydrogen ions were accelerated to energies of up to 400 keV. The energies of carbon and deuterium ions reached 5 keV. It was found that the ion energies vary indirectly with charge. As the cathode–dielectric separation was increased, only hydrogen ions were detected in the ion flow, and their energies increased over a distance of up to 7 mm from the dielectric. It was shown that hydrogen ions can be accelerated in several individual bunches, each with a narrow energy distribution.