Generation of low energetic intense electron beams in a glow discharge

Summary Form only given, as follows. Measures exist for suppressing the escalation of a pseudospark device into the main discharge. Then the discharge remains in a DC mode, where most of the electric energy is converted into a focused electron beam. In the current test phase, the voltage is varied between 2 and 10 kV. The maximum current is 55 mA. The current can be controlled by a relatively flat pressure curve (0.1-0.5 torr). An increase of power in the 10-kW region is in preparation. This type of electron source can be used in material processing and as a soft bremsstrahlung source.<>