Polymethyl methacrylate glow under the influence of runaway electron beams generated in a gas diode

Abstract

Spectral and amplitude–time characteristics of PMMA radiation under the impact of runaway electrons with subnanosecond duration are studied. The PMMA radiation spectra for a subnanosecond electron beam pulse duration are determined for the first time. The studies show that radiation of the band with a maximum at about 490 nm the intensity of which decreases toward the short-wave spectral region is recorded in the glow spectra. The glow intensity of this band varies proportionally to the number of electrons in the beam, which allows the possibility of using this radiation for determination of the number of high energy electrons in electron beams.