Abstract:
Results are given of simulation of the space-time dynamics of a beam-plasma discharge with the beam current exceeding the limiting vacuum current. It is found that the process of discharge development has three characteristic stages, namely, a stationary virtual cathode (VC), a progressively moving VC, and an ordinary beam-plasma discharge. It is further found that the ensemble of ions in the second stage is divided into two parts, namely, plasma ions and ions captured to collective acceleration by the moving VC.
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