Technique of a linear transformer allows now to build the generators of high power nanosecond pulses with the current rise time of ∼100 ns without intermediate power compression stages. This technique is being examined for use in high current high voltage pulsed accelerators. Plasma-filled diode has several advantages over standard vacuum diode that allow to improve the accelerators parameters. In this paper, plasma-filled diode experiments are described on generation of e-beam in the linear transformer accelerator. Possibility of use in the diode of isolated parallel plasma channels has been proven for the e-beam generation with cross-sectional area up to 50 cm 2 . The beam with current of 100 kA at voltage more than 400 kV was generated in the plasma-filled diode. Energy transmission efficiency from primary storage into a beam is about 54%.

The paper considers a plasma source based on a low-pressure (≈1 Pa) high-current (up to 450 A) non-self-sustained glow discharge with a hollow cathode of volume ≈0.2 m3. The research data are presented on the ignition stability of the discharge, on its main parameters, and on the radial and azimuthal plasma inhomogeneity varying with the pressure, discharge voltage and current, and anode-to-cathode area ratio at a plasma density of ≈1018 m−3 and an ionization degree of ≈1%. The beam plasma formations synthesized in such an electrode system of non-self-sustained glow discharge with a hollow cathode are interesting both from a scientific and technical point of view.

Method of voltage measurement at a vacuum load by means of homogeneous short-circuited vacuum-isolated line was considered. Prior to appearance of a measured high-voltage pulse, a magnetic field is formed in the line due to the bias current. Biasing provides fulfillment of magnetic electron isolation conditions and strong pressing of an electron layer down to the cathode already at the voltage wave front. As a result, a weak change of the "hot" line wave impedance is achieved during a pulse. Theoretical consideration and numerical simulation of the measuring line operation in the presence of bias current basing the applicability of the method was carried out. The method was used to determine the plasma-filled diode voltage at a megavolt voltage level. The absence of electron leakages at the voltage wave propagation of the amplitude ≈1 MV along the measuring line of the length 2.3 m with the wave impedance of 136 Ω and initial bias current of ≈6 kA was realized.

A capillary type plasma gun designed for generating a plasma channel with a characteristic diam eter of ≈10 mm in a high current relativistic electron diode has been tested. The dynamics of ion flow prop agation and the effect of the plasma source parameters on the current amplitude of the low resistance phase of the plasma filled diode have been studied. A low resistance phase duration of ≈120 ns has been attained at a current of ≈185 kA in the diode based on a unit gun with a 0.4 mm diameter capillary. The possibility of increasing the diode current by using several capillaries in a gun is demonstrated.

The paper presents the results of studies of a coaxial gun for a plasma-filled electron diode. Effects of the discharge channel diameter and gun current on characteristics of the plasma and pulse generated in the diode were investigated. The electron beam with maximum energy of ≥1 MeV at the current of ≈100 kA was obtained in the experiments with a plasma-filled diode. The energy of ≈5 kJ with the peak power of ≥100 GW dissipated in the diode.