Pseudospark-sourced beam and its application in high-power millimeter-wave generation

Area of Science:

• Physics
• Plasma Physics
• Electrical Engineering

Background:

• Pseudospark (PS) discharges generate high-current-density electron beams.
• These beams can self-focus via ion channels and travel long distances without external magnetic fields.
• This makes them suitable for compact, high-power millimeter-wave/THz radiation sources.

Purpose of the Study:

• To experimentally investigate the generation and transport of PS-sourced electron beams with varying cross-sections.
• To analyze the effects of post-acceleration on these beams.
• To demonstrate the application of PS-sourced beams in millimeter-wave/THz sources, specifically extended interaction oscillators (EIOs).

Main Methods:

• Experimental generation and characterization of electron beams from pseudospark discharges.
• Investigation of beam transport properties with different cross-sections.
• Comparative analysis of beams with and without post-acceleration.
• Integration and operation of extended interaction oscillators (EIOs) driven by PS beams.

Main Results:

• Successful generation and long-distance transport of self-focused electron beams from PS discharges.
• Demonstration of beam transport characteristics for different cross-sections.
• Quantification of the impact of post-acceleration on beam properties.
• Successful operation of EIOs at various frequencies, confirming the viability of PS beams for millimeter-wave/THz generation.

Conclusions:

• PS discharges are a viable source for high-current-density electron beams suitable for compact millimeter-wave/THz devices.
• The self-focusing and long-distance transport capabilities of these beams are confirmed experimentally.
• Post-acceleration can further modify beam characteristics for optimized source performance.
• The successful operation of EIOs validates the application of PS-sourced beams in high-power radiation generation.