A new approach to ion acceleration with electron beams

Abstract
The propagation of an unneutralized relativistic electron beam with ν/γ≳1 around a grounded wire creates a highly localized high‐density plasma. Multi‐MeV ions were observed to be accelerated collectively from this plasma by the electron beam. If a deuterated polyethylene wire is used up to 1014 deuterons with a mean energy of about 3 MeV are generated and directed along the axis of the wire. It was demonstrated that the acceleration mechanism is applicable to higher‐atomic‐number ions. If an aluminum wire is used 12–30‐MeV aluminum ions are produced.