The ionization of air by scanning relativistic high power CW electron beam

Summary form only given. The question of ionization of air by a relativistic scanning high power CW electron beam propagating in air attracts scientific and applied interest. It links with understanding of physical nature for ionization losses of electrons in beam, variation of current density and other. The experimental results for ionization of air by CW scanning electron beam of electron accelerator Rhodotron are presented in the report. The electron beam in experiments was used with next main parameters: kinetic energy is 5 MeV, power of beam is 10-80 kW, repetition is 100 Hz, and frequency of CW mode is 108 MHz. The sensors of conductivity were used for measurements of air plasma parameters. The experimental data for cross section distributions of electron beam current density are discussed. The comparison of experimental results with computer simulation is presented. The effect of variation of current density for different power of electron beam was observed. The physical model for explanation of this effect is suggested.