Multiple pulse magnetized electron beam injection in deuterium gas

Results of experiments on injection of a sequence of several electron beam pulses (80-90 keV, 20-75 A, similar to 30 mu s) into 10(19)-10(21) m(-3) deuterium plasma are presented. The first beam pulse was injected into deuterium gas, the following pulses propagated through residual plasma that survived the inter-pulse periods. A typical pulse duration was of the order of 10(6) omega(-1)(p) that is much longer than most of the interaction-related processes. However, we noticed significant differences in plasma processes between the first pulse and the rest ones. A suggested physical factor behind those differences is longitudinal plasma current that develops during the first beam pulse. Published by AIP Publishing.