Abstract:
Plasma processes and electron beam generation in an electron source with a grid plasma cathode are investigated. Experiments are conducted under the conditions of efficient electron extraction and an intense counter ion flux, which break grid stabilization. It is shown that a rise in the gas pressure and in the emitting plasma potential leads to the plasma potential modulation in the frequency range 10$^4$–10$^5$ Hz. Under the self-oscillation conditions, an electron beam is obtained with a constant current of up to 16 A and an electron energy modulated up to 100% of the accelerating voltage level (100–300 V). An explanation is given for relaxation self-oscillations arising when the plasma potential grows and for the system’s inertial non-linearity arising when the plasma potential induced by the space charge of the counter ion flux lags behind the current of electron-beam-generated ions.
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