PROCESS OF COLLECTIVE ACCELERATION OF IONS Russian patent published in 2001 - IPC

FIELD: acceleration equipment. SUBSTANCE: invention can be employed for development of heavy-current pulse sources of accelerated positive ions by pulses of nanosecond duration. Process of collective acceleration of ions consists in formation of virtual cathode in space of drift of electron beam, in injection of ion beam into region of location of virtual cathode and in decrease of current of electrons to zero simultaneously with injection of ions. Process is based on hysteresis of state of electron current in space of drift and on effect of disposal of discharge while transferring from one state to another. Physical essence lies in synchronous ion loading of jump of electron current emerging with this transfer. EFFECT: simplification of process, increase of current of accelerated ions to maximum possible value. 2 dwg