Losses in a pulsed electron beam during its formation and extraction from the diode chamber of an accelerator

The results of experimental studies of the current and charge balance in the diode unit of the ЭpU-500 high-current pulsed electron accelerator (an accelerating voltage of 350–500 keV, a half-height pulse duration of 60 ns, and a total kinetic electron energy of 250 J/pulse) during generation of an electron beam are presented. Planar diodes with multipointed cathodes having diameters of 43–60 mm and manufactured from graphite, copper, and carbon felt were studied. It is shown that the electron-beam divergence in the anode-cathode gap caused by a distortion in the electric field at the periphery of the cathode is the main source of parasitic losses in planar diodes. The half-angle of divergence is 68° at small anode-cathode gaps and decreases to 60° with an increase in the gap. When the diode impedance is matched to the generator’s output impedance (at a gap of 10–12 mm), the charge loss is within 12%.