The formation of a plasma anode in a Penning discharge cell combined with a planar magnetron

In the paper, a number of specifications of a plasma anode formed by a hybrid discharge which combines high-current reflective (Penning), low-pressure (argon, 0.053-0.133 Pa) gas discharge with a discharge in planar magnetron built into explosive-emission cathode of high-current electron gun was studied. Time delays of the transition of Penning discharge into high-current stage as well as radial distributions of electron and ion current densities of discharge plasma have been measured. It was shown that sometimes the current density distribution increased in the peripheral part of plasma anode is observed. This is needed for improvement of energy density uniformity via the cross section of high-current electron beam produced in such electron gun. The results of preliminary testing of electron gun with this plasma anode are presented. (paper)