Title :
Plasma Cathode for a Short-Pulse Dielectric Wall Accelerator
Author :
Harris, J.R. ; Hickman, B. ; Anaya, R. ; Cook, E.G. ; Hawkins, S. ; Holmes, C. ; Stanley, J. ; Watson, J. ; Caporaso, G.J.
Author_Institution :
Lawrence Livermore Nat. Lab., Livermore, CA
fDate :
6/1/2009 12:00:00 AM
Abstract :
The Beam Research Program at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory is continuing development of the dielectric wall accelerator (DWA), a type of accelerator which uses stacked pulse-forming lines (PFLs) to apply an accelerating field directly to the beam through a nonconducting vacuum boundary. Here, we report operation of a DWA as an electron diode using a surface flashover plasma cathode. Peak perveances in excess of 6 times 10-6A/V3/2 were measured, with current extraction and pulse train format depending on flashover source timing and PFL switching speed.
Keywords :
cathodes; flashover; plasma accelerators; DWA; electron diode; nonconducting vacuum boundary; plasma cathode; short-pulse dielectric wall accelerator; stacked pulse-forming lines; surface flashover; Accelerators; electron guns; particle sources; plasma generation; pulse power systems;
Journal_Title :
Plasma Science, IEEE Transactions on
DOI :
10.1109/TPS.2009.2019961