The electron pinch lifetime in high-current rod pinch diodes

In high-current coaxial diodes with rod anode (rod pinch diodes), the curre nt of the magnetic self-insulation in the gap is approximately two times gr eater than the critical magnetic insulation current (J(S) approximate to 2J (C)). Based on this fact, a model is proposed according to which a quasista tionary electron pinch state in such diodes is explained by a change in the gap magnetic insulation conditions caused by the pinch formation. This cir cumstance can be used to evaluate the pinch lifetime Deltat. The Deltat val ues calculated using the oscillograms measured on the Gamble I accelerator agree satisfactorily with the values experimentally determined in a coaxial rod pinch diode. (C) 2001 MAIK "Nauka/ Interperiodica".