The Pulsitron a Compact, High-Current Electron Beam Accelerator

A coaxial high current electron beam accelerator design is discussed. A novel feature of this design is that approximately one-half of the required energy is initially stored capacitively in a volume inside the beam. The cylindrical beam is accelerated with a Marx-like circuit. After acceleration, the beam is focused between coaxial biconic conductors to a small cross section. The design incorporates features which have been discussed by others. A specific accelerator module design storing 70 kilojoules and capable of producing beam currents greater than a million amperes at 1 million volts is described. The principal advantage of this design is that its compact size will make possible multi-module machines which will have an output far exceeding anything thought practical today.