A theory of a novel high-current ion accelerator is developed, in whic
h the accelerating and focusing fields are excited by electron beams d
ue to the cyclotron instability related to either anomalous or normal
Doppler effect. The results of both theoretical and numerical studies
shows the advantage of this method of ion acceleration, which enables
an acceleration rate of 10-100 MeV/m, an ion energy of 10-100 MeV, and
an ion current of 1-10 A. The engineering design of an experimental a
ccelerator is developed. The accelerator will have the following param
eters: the energy of the electron beam 350 keV, the current 150 A, the
pulse duration 2.5 mu s, the wave frequency 150 MHz, and the wave amp
litude 56 kV/cm; the proton beam is assumed to be accelerated from 5 t
o 8 MeV. At present, the Ural-5 accelerator-injector operates with an
energy of 5 MeV; preliminary experiments are being carried out, and th
e accelerator is under construction.