The University of Maryland electron pulse compression experiment

The Maryland Electron Beam Transport Experiment has been devoted to the study of high perveance beam dynamics in the transverse dimensions. In this experiment, a 5-keV, 240-mA electron beam with a 2- mu s pulse length is injected into a 5-cm channel of periodically spaced solenoids. A newly designed periodically spaced solenoids. A newly designed injector will extend the study to include the beam physics (emittance growth, etc.) of an electron pulse undergoing longitudinal compression. Consisting of a variable-perveance gridded electron gun followed by one induction module, this injector will produce a 50-ns, 40-mA electron pulse with a 5-keV, quadratically time-dependent energy shear. Preliminary computations suggest that a beam with these initial conditions will compress by about a factor of five before reaching the end of the channel. First results from tests of the major system components are presented along with a description of planned experiments. >