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On the observed energy of runaway electron beams in air

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 December 2011

G.A. Mesyats ,
A.G. Reutova ,
K.A. Sharypov ,
V.G. Shpak ,
S.A. Shunailov  and
M.I. Yalandin
G.A. Mesyats
Affiliation:
P. N. Lebedev Physical Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
A.G. Reutova
Affiliation:
Institute of Electrophysics, Ural Division, Russian Academy of Sciences, Ekaterinburg, Russia
K.A. Sharypov
Affiliation:
Institute of Electrophysics, Ural Division, Russian Academy of Sciences, Ekaterinburg, Russia
V.G. Shpak
Affiliation:
Institute of Electrophysics, Ural Division, Russian Academy of Sciences, Ekaterinburg, Russia
S.A. Shunailov
Affiliation:
Institute of Electrophysics, Ural Division, Russian Academy of Sciences, Ekaterinburg, Russia
M.I. Yalandin*
Affiliation:
Institute of Electrophysics, Ural Division, Russian Academy of Sciences, Ekaterinburg, Russia
*
Address correspondence and reprint requests to: Michael I. Yalandin, Institute of Electrophysics, UD RAS, 106 Amundsen Street, 620016, Ekaterinburg, Russia. E-mail: yalandin@iep.uran.ru
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Abstract

Experiments with an air electrode gap have been performed where the current/charge of a picosecond beam of runaway electrons was measured over a wide range (up to four orders of magnitude) downstream of the absorbing foil filters. Measurements and calculations have made it possible to refer the beam current to the rise time of the accelerating voltage pulse to within picoseconds. It has been shown that, in contrast to a widespread belief, the runaway electron energies achieved are no greater than those corresponding to the mode of free acceleration of electrons in a nonstationary, highly nonuniform electric field induced by the cathode voltage. The experimental data agree with predictions of a numerical model that describes free acceleration of particles. It has been confirmed that the magnitude of the critical electric field that is necessary for electrons to go into the mode of continuous acceleration of electrons in atmospheric air corresponds to classical notions.

Keywords

Accelerating voltageContinuous accelerationCut-off energyFoil filterRunaway electrons
Type
Research Article
Information
Laser and Particle Beams , Volume 29 , Issue 4 , December 2011 , pp. 425 - 435
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2011

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