Abstract
Propagation of an intense relativistic electron beam (1 MeV, 27 kA, 30 ns) in vacuum after passage through a localized hydrogen plasma of ∼ 2-cm width has been observed. A large fraction of the injected current was found to propagate in a vacuum drift tube to a distance in excess of 50 cm downstream of the plasma. A description of the process is proposed which links the electron beam propagation with collective ion acceleration and which relates to cosmic-ray acceleration and laser experiments.
- Received 12 October 1983
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.52.1978
©1984 American Physical Society
