Axially Dependent Equilibria for a Relativistic Electron Beam

Abstract

Experimental measurements and numerical simulation show that relativistic electron beams propagating in a drift tube with a net current less than the Alfvén critical current assume an axially dependent equilibrium. The equilibrium of a 40-kA, 3-MeV electron beam propagating in air at 22.5 Torr has been studied analytically, numerically, and experimentally. Reasonable agreement among the results of the three approaches has been found.