Abstract
The development of avalanches of relativistic runaway electrons is investigated in an experiment similar to the classical Townsend experiment, but in the relativistic energy region. A large-scale laboratory setup is developed with an operating voltage of up to 1.2 MV, which is a chamber with flat electrodes separated by a segmented insulator. A sensitive collector method of analyzing the spectra of high-energy electrons is developed, which is used in electron detectors with a large collecting surface. The multiplication of relativistic electrons in the air is investigated at voltages of up to 1.0 MV. The initial stage of a relativistic electron avalanche is realized for the first time. The results of measurements agree with the results of Monte Carlo simulation.
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Babich, L.P., Bakhov, K.I., Balakin, V.A. et al. An Experimental Investigation of an Avalanche of Relativistic Runaway Electrons under Normal Conditions. High Temperature 42, 1–11 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1023/B:HITE.0000020085.61526.40
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/B:HITE.0000020085.61526.40