On investigation of the auto-resonant acceleration concept on experimental model devices

The auto-resonant acceleration concept (ARA) is known to be based on the excitation of negative energy slow cyclotron wave (SCW) in the intense electron beam and on the ion acceleration by the same wave. The ARA theory was developed in papers [1-3]. It seems reasonable to perform experimental studies of the ARA method not only on large devices [3,3a] but also on small ones, these enable to study many physical problems connected with the development of the method (e.g., SCW excitations the choice of slow wave structure, ion injection and the initial stage of ion acceleration. etc.). Such model experiments and the comparison of the results with the theory may allow to draw practical conclusions on the prospects of the ARA method.