Theory of wakefield and J × B drift effects of a relativistic electron beam propagating in a plasma

A theoretical description of the wakefield effects is presented for a relativistic electron beam propagating through a tenuous background plasma. A particle simulation study of the wakefield effects is also carried out by two-dimensional particle-in-cell codes and the simulation results are compared with the theoretical predictions. The simulation data agree remarkably well with the theoretical values. J × B drift motion of a relativistic electron beam propagating through an ion channel is also investigated. Due to finite beam size and due to the accelerator and beam head location, location of the maximum deflection point propagates from the accelerator nozzle to the beam head. At the maximum deflection point, the perpendicular velocity of the electron beam segment does not match to the drifting velocity of the ion channel, causing a disruption of the beam propagation through the ion channel.