Pseudospark as an electron beam source

The pseudospark discharge phenomenon with interesting charged particle emission characteristics was introduced in 1978. This discharge utilizes the breakdown characteristics of the lower pressure side of the Paschen curve in a single or multigap parallel plate electrode geometry. To investigate the electron beam produced, the authors have constructed a modular type multigap pseudospark chamber. By using radiachromic film which gives a linear response up to an absorbed dose of 188 rad, the spatial profile of the beam was determined. At an axial distance of 3cm from the anode a beam diameter of 1.5 mm FWHM was found. Measurements of the beam emittance using an emittance meter consisting of slits and radiachromic film is presently underway and preliminary results are presented