Numerical simulation of a triode source of intense radial converging electron beam

The results of numerical simulations of a triode source of an intense radial converging electron beam are presented. The role of the initial transverse velocity of electrons, defocusing effect of the controlling grid, the beam self-magnetic field, backscattering of electrons, and ion flow from the target is analyzed. It was found that the ion flow from the target essentially increases the value of the electron current. The influence of the beam self-magnetic field on electron trajectories leads to the fact that there is a critical value of the cathode-grid voltage dividing the mode of the source operation into stable and unstable. The influence of initial transverse electron energies on the beam focusing is essentially higher than the influence of the controlling grid. Backscattering of the beam electrons from the target surface increases the target ion current so that the source operation may become unstable and the distribution of the beam power density on the target becomes nonuniform with a maximum in the center. Electrons passing by the target drift along the source axis. This leads to diminishing the power density at the center of the target and to the exit of peripheral electrons from the source. Conditions for achieving required electron beam parameters (the electron kinetic energy - 120 keV, the beam energy density on the target ∼40 J/cm2 on a maximum possible length of the target surface) were determined. © 2016 Author(s).