What is it about?
High-current density electron beams/flows in a vacuum (non-neutral plasmas) in crossed static external and self- electric and magnetic fields are commonly found in Vacuum Electron Devices (VEDs) such as classical and relativistic magnetrons, hybrid free-electron lasers and masers, Magnetically self-Insulated transmission Line Oscillators (MILOs) as well as in accelerators and satellite systems. The complex and multifaceted nature of these beams/flows affects interaction between the electrons and the resultant generated electromagnetic energy, the production of which is the main purpose of VEDs. Space-charge is the underlying physical mechanism describing the interaction and limiting conditions for these charged-particle beams/flows.
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Why is it important?
Previously used non-time-dependent (static) descriptions of high current density electron beams/flows in VEDs leave behind an important issue of non-radiative nonlinear collective plasma-like oscillations in such beams, which may influence, both the electron beam own dynamics and production of electromagnetic radiation. Our paper addresses the consequences of non-static (but stationary) dynamics of high current electron beam in a MILO exhibiting that collective behavior assumes the form of relativistic Upper-Hybrid Oscillations (UHOs), a well-known phenomenon found in the physics of neutral plasmas. For the theoretical analysis of the complex collective electron oscillations, a mathematical description in terms of special functions is used that enables us to analytically find the nonlinear temporal period for the relativistic UHOs and then from here deduce the same for the relativistic electrostatic plasma oscillations.
Perspectives
With the help of this analytical and theoretical description of space-charge oscillations in the MILO, we hope to address the problem of a meaningful one-space-dimensional theory of microwave generation that would include a treatment of the influence of insulating self-magnetic fields in a MILO (as well as other VED’s) – something which up to this point has not been carried out. This is the first step and it lays the groundwork for a complete theoretical foundation to describe these devices.
Kostyantyn Ilyenko
Institute for Radiophysics and Electronics of NAS of Ukraine
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Upper-hybrid oscillations of high current relativistic electron beam under conditions of magnetic self-insulation, Physics of Plasmas, July 2024, American Institute of Physics,
DOI: 10.1063/5.0206628.
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