Theoretical and experimental study of space charge in intense ion beams

Abstract

The highly collimated beams of energetic neutral atoms used in controlled thermonuclear fusion research (CTR) require the virtual elimination of space-charge forces in the primary ion beam in order to minimize the angular divergence. A model is presented which describes the behavior of an intense ion beam passing through a gas cell. This theory is used to derive the space-charge field produced by such a beam and shows how its effect can be minimized. This model agrees well with experimental measurements and enables emittance-dominated beams of very high brightness to be obtained which could find applications in fields other than CTR.