Generation of Quasi-Stationary Electron Beams on the Basis of a Vacuum Discharge

The efficiency of gas liberation from the anode in the high-voltage stage of a vacuum discharge is measured. At the beam current density ¿ 10 A · cm-2, the gas liberation factor reaches ~1-10 molecule/electron. Gas liberation from the anode is the main factor that induces the discharge to go to a low-voltage arc stage and causes the limitation of the beam current duration. On lowering the concentration of the gas liberated in the electrode gap, the beam current duration is limited by spontaneous breaks of current and reaches ~-1 s.