AbstractLinear accelerators (linacs), producing relativistic (5 MeV) electron beams are down to a size that allows them to be flown on spacecraft and sounding rockets. This opens up to new opportunities for atmospheric/ionospheric modification experiments where the mesosphere and lower thermosphere regions can be perturbed down to 40 km altitude. In this presentation, the relativistic electron beam injection process is investigated by means of 3-dimensional particle-in-cell (PIC) simulations to determine the initial interaction of the beam with the spacecraft and the ambient plasma. The results indicate, that relativistic beams are more stable than keV-energy beams investigated in the past, allowing the injection and propagation of beams with currents several orders of magnitude higher than for keV-energy beams. The superior stability of relativistic beams allows a large fraction of the energy to be deposited in the lower atmosphere. It is suggested that relativistic beams can be applied to investigations of atmospheric electrical and chemical processes.


    Access

    Check access

    Check availability in my library

    Order at Subito €


    Export, share and cite



    Title :

    Relativistic electron beam injection from spacecraft: performance and applications


    Contributors:

    Published in:

    Advances in Space Research ; 34 , 11 ; 2409-2412


    Publication date :

    2003-08-01


    Size :

    4 pages




    Type of media :

    Article (Journal)


    Type of material :

    Electronic Resource


    Language :

    English




    Relativistic electron beam injection from spacecraft: performance and applications

    Neubert, T. / Gilchrist, B. E. / International Council of Scientific Unions | British Library Conference Proceedings | 2004





    3D Electromagnetic PIC Simulations of Relativistic Electron Pulse Injections from Spacecraft

    Neubert, T. / Gilchrist, B. E. / COSPAR | British Library Conference Proceedings | 2002