Initial results on the formation of an Xenon ion channel in the recharging E/sub z/ at ATA

TL;DRAbstract

The observations of relativistic electron beam focusing and guiding in the ion channel formed in benzene gas at ATA suggest that it might be advantageous to use a heavier ion mass. In principle Xe could be ionized by shifting the frequency of the KrF laser, and tests for this purpose have been proposed by W.K. Bischel and D.J. Eckstrom at SRI. Here we report on initial tests of a different scheme for producing an Xe ion channel in ATA. During about 20 ..mu.. s just before the main forward pulse, there is a relatively small gap voltage due to the recharging of the Blumlein capacity. A mixture of gases consisting of about a micron of Xe and a small fraction of benzene is used. The laser is fired a few hundred ns before the main foreward accelerator voltage pulse and produces a small initial benzene plasma density. The electrons avalanche in the recharging E/sub z/ and build up a plasma column which has mainly Xe ions. 6 figs., 2 tabs.

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