Production and utilization of ion cluster acceleration

Apparatus for concentrating a beam of electrons,

• pulse generator means having a first electrode for emitting a pulsed beam of electrons and a second electrode which receives the beam,
• a return path for the electrons extending from the second electrode to the pulse generator to provide means in which the beam has a self-pinching effect,
• the improvement comprising:
• said return path having reduced cross-section for a limited distance adjacent said second electrode to reduce the cross-section of the self-magnetic field over said limited distance, and means for supplying ions to the beam, thereby further pinching the beam to a cross-section smaller than the cross-section of the beam during the first pinching thereof, said pulse generator and said return path comprising means for providing clusters of atomic ions in the beam with the concentration of ions in the clusters increasing while the beam passes through the reduced cross-section of the return path, and a target positioned to receive the impact of said clusters, to produce a shower of particles.

The method of producing a shower of particles comprising:

• providing a target,
• pinching an electron beam,
• forming a cluster of atomic ions in the beam,
• further pinching said beam while concentrating the cluster of atomic ions in the beam, and
• directing said beam at said target at a beam velocity high enough that the ion clusters will strike the target at a sufficiently high velocity that a shower of particles at the target results.

Apparatus for pinching an electron beam comprising:

• a cathode that tapers to a beam producing end, for producing an electron beam, said cathode defining a gas outlet hole at its beam producing end,
• an anode for receiving the beam,
• means for pinching the beam as it travels from the cathode to the anode, and
• means for feeding gas out of said hole into the beam so that said atomic ions are introduced into the electron beam to thus enhance the pinching of the beam.

The method of concentrating a beam on a target comprising:

• directing a high energy pulsed pinched beam comprising bursts of electrons, in a first direction, towards the target,
• the improvement comprising:
• forming atomic ion clusters in the beam,
• adding atomic ions to the beam adjacent the target thereby pinching the beam adjacent the target to a cross-section which is smaller than the remainder of the beam, and
• impacting the target with said beam after the addition thereto of the ions.

The method of concentrating a beam on a target comprising:

• directing a high energy pulsed beam comprising bursts of electrons, in a first direction, towards the target,
• pinching the beam,
• the improvement comprising:
• forming clusters of atomic ions in the beam, adding atomic ions to the beam adjacent the target thereby pinching the beam adjacent the target to a cross-section which is smaller than the remainder of the beam, and
• impacting the target with said clusters of atomic ions.

Apparatus for concentrating a beam of electrons comprising:

• pulse generator means having a first electrode for emitting a pulsed beam of electrons and a second electrode which receives the beam,
• a return path for the electrons extending from the second electrode to the pulse generator to provide means in which the beam has a self-pinching effect,
• the improvement comprising:
• said return path having reduced cross-section for a limited distance adjacent said second electrode to reduce the cross-section of the self-magnetic field over said limited distance, and means for supplying ions to the beam;
• said return path comprising means providing two pinching sections the first one of which is adjacent the first electrode and produces a beam diameter of at least 1 mm at at least one place along the first pinching section, and the second of which is adjacent the second electrode and pinches the beam to at least as small as 0.1 mm radius.