LLNL, Livermore, USA
Particle-in-cell (PIC) simulations of a high current density (I > 1 kA), and highly relativistic electron beam (E ~ 2-20 MeV) in the Scorpius Linear Induction Accelerator (LIA) are presented. The simulation set consists of a 3D electrostatic/magnetostatic simulation coupled to a 2D XY slice solver that propagates the beam through the proposed accelerator lattice for Scorpius, a next-generation flash X-ray radiography source. These simulations focus on the growth of azimuthal modes in the beam (e.g. Diocotron instability) that arise when physical ring distributions manifest in the beam either due to electron optics or solenoidal focusing and transport. The saturation mechanism appears to lead to the generation of halo particles and conversion down to lower mode numbers as the width of the ring distribution increases. The mode growth and saturation can contribute to the generation of hot spots on the target as well possible azimuthal asymmetries in the radiograph. Simulation results are compared to linear theory and tuning parameters are investigated to mitigate the growth of azimuthal modes in the Scorpius electron beam.
* LLNL-ABS-830595, Approved for public release. Distribution Unlimited.
