Production of Intense Proton Beams in Pinched-Electron-Beam Diodes

Abstract

A polarity-reversed ${10}^{12}$-W relativistic-electron-beam generator operating in the self-pinched mode is used to produce and propagate intense proton beams. Charge-neutralized beams of 30-50 ns duration consisting of over 4 × ${10}^{16}$ 0.5-0.8-MeV protons distributed over a 120-${\mathrm{cm}}^2$ cross-sectional area are routinely produced. The 150-200-kA average ion currents deduced from these measurements are in good agreement with theoretical calculations.