The observed disruption of intense runaway electron streams in a plasma betatron
Date
1962Author
Shepherd, Lloyd Thomas
Type
ThesisDegree Level
DoctoralMetadata
Show full item recordAbstract
This thesis describes an investigation of the problem
of producing an intense stream of runaway electrons.
With an argon plasma (density from 4 x 1010 to 4 x 1011
cm-3) in an azimuthal magnetic field of 0.1 webers/m2,
accelerating fields from 8.8 x 102 to 8.8 x 103 volts/m
were used. Refined Rogowski-coil and scintillationdetector
diagnostic techniques were used to study the behavior
of the system. Intense runaway electron streams
were observed. Disruption of the stream occurred approximately
0.4 usec after its formation. X radiation was
observed during the disruption. The energy of the electrons
producing the x rays (approximately 100 kev), is
less than would have been observed if they were accelerated
freely from the moment of application of the accelerating
field. It is concluded that the disruption of
the streaming motion is due to an instability.