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Generation of runaway electrons and X rays in an inhomogeneous electric field at high gas pressures

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 November 2016

V.F. Tarasenko
Affiliation:
Institute of High Current Electronics, Tomsk 634055, Russia National Research Tomsk State University, Tomsk 634050, Russia National Research Tomsk Polytechnic University, Tomsk 634050, Russia
E.Kh. Baksht
Affiliation:
Institute of High Current Electronics, Tomsk 634055, Russia
D.V. Beloplotov*
Affiliation:
Institute of High Current Electronics, Tomsk 634055, Russia National Research Tomsk State University, Tomsk 634050, Russia
A.G. Burachenko
Affiliation:
Institute of High Current Electronics, Tomsk 634055, Russia National Research Tomsk State University, Tomsk 634050, Russia
M.I. Lomaev
Affiliation:
Institute of High Current Electronics, Tomsk 634055, Russia National Research Tomsk State University, Tomsk 634050, Russia
D.A. Sorokin
Affiliation:
Institute of High Current Electronics, Tomsk 634055, Russia
*
Address correspondence and reprint requests to: D.V. Beloplotov, Institute of High Current Electronics, Russian Academy of Science, Akademichesky Avenue 2/3, Tomsk, 634055, Russia. E-mail: rff.qep.bdim@gmail.com

Abstract

Results of experimental studies of the amplitude–temporal characteristics of a runaway electron (RE) beam, as well as breakdown voltage and discharge current with a picosecond time resolution are presented. The maximum pressure, at which a RE beam is detectable, decreases with increasing the voltage rise time. The waveforms of the discharge and RE beam currents are synchronized with those of the voltage pulses. It is shown that the amplitude–temporal characteristics of the RE beam depend on the designs of the gas-filled diode and cathode, as well as the gap length. The mechanism for the generation of REs in atmospheric-pressure gases is analyzed on the basis of the obtained experimental data.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2016 

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References

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