THE INFLUENCE OF AN ELECTRONEGATIVE GAS ADMIXTURE ON THE INTENSE E-BEAM TRANSPORT AND INDUCED PLASMA CURRENTS IN ARGON

The propagation of an electron beam with the energy approximately 1.2 MeV, current approximately 8 kA, and induced plasma current have been investigated in the metal chamber approximately 0.5 m long filled with argon at atmospheric pressure. The degree of current transport effici ency is found to have been risen several times when a little amount (a pproximately 0.3%) of SF 6, was added. Plasma current vanishes at appr oximately 1% SF6 admixture. A theoretical interpretation of the experi mental results is proposed.