Thermal imaging diagnostics of high-current electron beams

Area of Science:

• Physics
• Materials Science
• Engineering

Background:

• Pulsed electron beams are crucial in various scientific and industrial applications.
• Accurate measurement of electron beam parameters like energy density and spatial distribution is essential for process control and research.
• Existing methods, such as using radiosensitive materials, can be costly and time-consuming.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a novel thermal imaging diagnostics system for measuring pulsed electron beam energy density.
• To demonstrate the system's capability in controlling electron energy spectrum and measuring beam cross-section density distribution.
• To evaluate the system's performance and compare it with existing methods.

Main Methods:

• Utilizing a thermal imager (Fluke-Ti10) to register the thermal print of a pulsed electron beam on a material with low bulk density and low thermal conductivity.
• Conducting tests on a pulsed electron accelerator (TEU-500) with electron energies of 300-500 keV and current densities of 0.1-0.4 kA/cm².
• Analyzing the thermal print to determine electron energy spectrum, spatial distribution, and total energy.

Main Results:

• The thermal imaging diagnostics successfully registered the heat pattern of the pulsed electron beam within a single pulse.
• Sensitivity was sufficient to detect energy densities over 0.1 J/cm² (or current densities over 10 A/cm² at 400 keV, 60 ns pulse duration).
• Achieved spatial resolution of 0.9-1 mm, providing detailed beam profile information.

Conclusions:

• Thermal imaging diagnostics provide a viable, cost-effective alternative for measuring pulsed electron beam characteristics.
• The method eliminates the need for expensive consumables and extensive processing time associated with dosimetric materials.
• This technique offers precise control and measurement of electron beam parameters, enhancing experimental accuracy and efficiency.