A. Valfells

Multipactor discharge on metals and dielectrics: Historical review and recent theories

This paper reviews the history of multipactor discharge theory, focusing on recent models of multipactor accessibility and saturation. Two cases are treated in detail: That of a first-order, two-surface multipactor, and that of a single-surface multipactor on a dielectric. In both cases, susceptibility curves are constructed to indicate the regions of external parameter space where multipactor is likely to occur, taking into account the dependence on surface materials, and the effects of space charge and cavity loading. In the case of a dielectric, multipactor is found to deliver about 1% of the rf power to the surface. The two cases are contrasted in light of experimental observations.

Effects of pulse-length and emitter area on virtual cathode formation in electron guns

Recent experiments at the University of Maryland using photoemission from a dispenser cathode have yielded some interesting results regarding the effects of the area of emission and of the ratio between the pulse length and the gap transit time on the amount of current that may be drawn from an electron gun before a virtual cathode forms. The experiments show that a much higher current density may be drawn from a short pulse or limited emitter area than is anticipated by the Child–Langmuir limiting current. There is also evidence that the current may be increased even after virtual cathode formation, which leads a distinction between a limiting current density and a current density critical for virtual cathode formation. The experiments have also yielded some interesting results on the longitudinal structure of the current pulse passed through the anode. Some empirical and theoretical scaling laws regarding the formation of virtual cathodes in an electron gun will be presented. This work was motivated by the needs of the University of Maryland Electron Ring (UMER) [P. G. O’Shea, M. Reiser, R. A. Kishek et al., Nucl. Instrum. Methods Phys. Res. A 464, 646 (2001)] where the goal is to generate pulses that are well-localized in time and space.

Effects of an external magnetic field, and of oblique radio-frequency electric fields on multipactor discharge on a dielectric

This paper analyzes, separately, the effects of an external magnetic field, the rf magnetic field, and of an oblique rf electric field, on multipactor discharge on a dielectric. Using Monte Carlo simulation, we obtain the susceptibility diagram in terms of the magnetic field, the rf electric field, and the dc charging field for various dielectric materials. We find that a magnetic field parallel to either the rf electric field or the dc electric field does not qualitatively change the susceptibility diagram. However, an external magnetic field perpendicular to both the rf electric field and the dc electric field can significantly affect the susceptibility diagram. Thus oriented magnetic fields lower the upper susceptibility bound when the magnetic field strength is approximately equal to Bres[T]=0.036f(GHz), where f is the rf frequency. Both the lower and upper susceptibility boundary may be raised significantly by a large external magnetic field, B≫Bres. Susceptibility to single surface multipactor is gr...

Space-charge effects on multipactor on a dielectric

Analyzes the effects of space charge shielding on the steady state of a multipactor discharge on a dielectric. Analytic methods are used to obtain an exact function for the potential in the discharge, assuming a Maxwellian distribution of emitted electrons. An equation for the amount of power deposited on the dielectric by the multipactoring electrons, for a given saturation level, is given. A simple method for obtaining the saturation level, for a given material, is obtained.

Design and operation of a retarding field energy analyzer with variable focusing for space-charge-dominated electron beams

A retarding electrostatic field energy analyzer for low-energy beams has been designed, simulated, and tested with electron beams of several keV, in which space-charge effects play an important role. A cylindrical focusing electrode is used to overcome the beam expansion inside the device due to space-charge forces, beam emittance, etc. The cylindrical focusing voltage is independently adjustable to provide proper focusing strength. Single particle simulation and theoretical error analysis using beam envelopes show that this energy analyzer can get very high resolution for low-energy beams (up to 10 keV), which was found to be in good agreement with experimental results. The measured beam energy spectrum is both temporally and spatially resolved. In addition, a computer-controlled automatic system is developed and significantly improves the speed and efficiency of the data acquisition and processing. The measured beam energy spreads, are in remarkably good agreement with the intrinsic limits set by the ef...

Multipactor experiment on a dielectric surface

A novel experiment to investigate single-surface multipactor on a dielectric surface was developed and tested. The compact apparatus consists of a small brass microwave cavity in a high vacuum system. The cavity is ∼15 cm in length with an outer diameter of ∼10 cm. A pulsed variable frequency microwave source at ∼2.4 GHz, 2 kW peak excites the TE111 mode with a strong electric field parallel to a dielectric plate (∼0.2 cm thickness) that is inserted at midlength of the cavity. The microwave pulses are monitored by calibrated microwave diodes. An electron probe measures electron current and provides temporal measurements of the multipactor electron current with respect to the microwave pulses. Phosphor on the dielectric surface is used to detect multipactor electrons by photoemission. The motivation of this experiment is to test recent theoretical calculations of single-surface multipactor on a dielectric.

Progress in heavy ion fusion research

The U.S. Heavy Ion Fusion program has recently commissioned several new experiments. In the High Current Experiment [P. A. Seidl et al., Laser Part. Beams 20, 435 (2003)], a single low-energy beam with driver-scale charge-per-unit-length and space-charge potential is being used to study the limits to transportable current posed by nonlinear fields and secondary atoms, ions, and electrons. The Neutralized Transport Experiment similarly employs a low-energy beam with driver-scale perveance to study final focus of high perveance beams and neutralization for transport in the target chamber. Other scaled experiments—the University of Maryland Electron Ring [P. G. O’Shea et al., accepted for publication in Laser Part. Beams] and the Paul Trap Simulator Experiment [R. C. Davidson, H. Qin, and G. Shvets, Phys. Plasmas 7, 1020 (2000)]—will provide fundamental physics results on processes with longer scale lengths. An experiment to test a new injector concept is also in the design stage. This paper will describe th...

Corrections to "Advancements in codes for computer aided design of depressed collectors and tracing of backscattered electrons-part II. Improvements in modelling of the physics of secondary electron emission and backscattering"

The BSCAT computer code being developed by us for the design of depressed collectors for gyrotrons employs a special algorithm for tracing the trajectories of backscattered electrons. Monte Carlo techniques are used on a large ensemble of rays to ensure accurate representation of the stochastic process. Recent work has focused on improvement of the modeling of the electron backscatter phenomenon itself. We have introduced more accurate models for the backscatter coefficients for true secondaries, as well as elastically and inelastically backscattered primaries. These models are adapted to the energy ranges and the angles of incidence of the primaries. They are linked with experimental data as available in current literature or with Monte Carlo simulations. Analytical representations have been used where they closely approximate the experimental or simulation data, in an effort to make the computation as versatile and computationally inexpensive as feasible. The same has been done for angular and energy distributions of the emitted electrons.

The University of Maryland Electron Ring (UMER)

A detailed understanding of the physics of space-charge dominated beams is vital for many advanced accelerators that desire to achieve high beam intensity. In that regard, low-energy, high-intensity electron beams provide an excellent model system. The University of Maryland Electron ring (UMER), currently under construction, has been designed to study the physics of space-charge dominated beams with extreme intensity in a strong focusing lattice with dispersion. The tune shift in UMER will be more than an order of magnitude greater than exiting synchrotrons and rings. The 10-keV, 100 mA, UMER beam has a generalized perveance in the range of 0.0015, and a tune shift of 0.9. Though compact (11-m in circumference), UMER is a very complex device, with over 140 focusing and bending magnets. We report on the unique design features of this research facility, the beam physics to be investigated, and early experimental results.

Effects of a series resistor on electron emission from a field emitter

Universal curves are constructed that provide an immediate determination of the effect of a series resistor on the electron emission from a field emitter. These curves are applicable to both the low current and high current regime. The effects of space charge and of the series resistor are apparent from these curves, which are applicable to a large class of materials. An example is given to illustrate their use.