On the Current of the Low-Energy High-Current Electron Beam Formed in a Plasma-Filled Diode

The reasons for the limitation of the current of a high-current electron beam formed in a plasma-filled diode have been investigated. It has been revealed that the beam current is largely limited, on the one hand, by the transmission capacity of the double layer between the cathode and anode plasmas and, on the other hand, by the rate of charge neutralization of the beam in the drift channel. Experiments and estimates have shown that, even with these limitations, the beam current can be considerably greater than the critical currents for the buildup of aperiodic instabilities which result in the formation of a virtual cathode.