Erosion of the Leading Edge of a Low-Energy High-Current Electron Beam Injected into Gas in the Absence of an External Magnetic Field

Abstract

Erosion of the leading edge a low-energy high-current electron beam injected into a low-pressure neutral gas under conditions of virtual cathode formation in the absence of an external magnetic field is studied theoretically. Beam losses are calculated as functions of the pressure and sort of gas, beam electron energy, and system geometry. The dependence of the duration of the leading edge erosion on the system parameters is analyzed.