[en] About 1.5 x 10¹² positive ions are predicted to be required to disrupt the focusing (for 0.25 cm radius and 0.2 electric neutralization fraction). Beam electron collisions are predicted to produce this number in 20 ns with 6 x 10¹⁵ water molecules/cm². Electron avalanching is predicted to be intense at time zero in a gas layer about 10^-3 cm thick with 1.4 x 10¹⁶ cm^-2. With increasing time, space charge reduces the E-field and so the avalanching decreases. With 0.25 cm radius, 1.9 x 10¹¹ are predicted in 0.6 ns and with 1 cm radius, 7.4 x 10¹¹ are predicted in 1.5 ns

[en] The plasma current decay time constant is predicted to be short compared to the pulse length and so self-focusing is predicted for most of the beam pulse. Four- pulse beam envelopes for a high dose case require mitigation, those for a low dose case do not. Methods of mitigation are summarized. Hose instability growth in the plume length is predicted to be minimal

No abstract available

[en] Experimental studies of self-focused, high-current electron-beam propagation phenomena are compared with the results of computational modeling. The model includes the radial structure of the beam-plasma system, a full electromagnetic field description, primary and secondary gas ionization processes, and a linear theory of the hose-like distortions. Good agreement between the experimental results and the computations strengthens the premise that hose instability is the principal limitation to propagation at high pressure

[en] We are studying the flashover of vacuum insulators for applications where high voltage conditioning of the insulator and electrodes is not practical and for pulse lengths on the order of several microseconds. The study is centered about experiments performed with a 100-kV, 10-ms pulsed power system and supported by a combination of theoretical and computational modeling. The base line geometry is a cylindrically symmetric, +45^o insulator between flat electrodes. In the experiments, flashovers or breakdowns are localized by operating at field stresses slightly below the level needed for explosive emissions with the base line geometry. The electrodes and/or insulator are then seeded with an emission source, e.g. a tuft of velvet, or a known mechanical defect. Various standard techniques are employed to suppress cathode-originating flashovers/breakdowns. We present the results of our experiments and discuss the capabilities of modeling insulator flashover

[en] Ions extracted from a solid surface or plasma by impact of an high intensity and high current electron beam can partially neutralize the beam space charge and change the focusing system. We have investigated ion emission computationally and experimentally. By matching PIC simulation results with available experimental data, our finding suggests that if a mix of ion species is available at the emitting surface, protons dominate the backstreaming ion effects, and that, unless there is surface flashover, ion emission is source limited. We have also investigated mitigation, such as e-beam cleaning, laser cleaning and ion trapping with a foil barrier. The temporal behavior of beam spot size with a foil barrier and a focusing scheme to improve foil barrier performance are discussed

[en] As part of the Dual Axis Radiography Hydrotest Facility, Phase II (DARHT II) multipulse Bremsstrahlung target, we have been performing an investigation of (1) the possible adverse effects of backstreaming ion emission from the Bremsstrahlung converter target and (2) maintaining sufficient target density to ensure dose in latter pulses. Theory predictions show that the first effect would primarily be manifested in the static focusing system as a rapidly varying x-ray spot. From experiments performed on ETA-II, we have shown that the first effect is not strongly present when the beam initially interacts with the target. Electron beam pulses delivered to the target after formation of a plasma are strongly affected, however. Secondly, we have performed studies of the effect of the time varying target density on dose and seek to demonstrate various techniques for maintaining that density. Measurements are presented of the target density as a function of time and are compared with our hydrodynamic models