Transport and focusing of a low-energy electron beam in low-pressure ionized argon

The transport and focusing of low-energy electron beams with effective transfer of stored energy in low-pressure ionized argon are investigated under the conditions of a high degree of charge neutralization in an external longitudinal magnetic field. It is shown that a nonuniform magnetic field provides the range of parameters where one can tightly stabilize the position of the maximum of the beam on the target and, if necessary, compress the beam. It is demonstrated that the parameters of the electron beam can be controlled by appropriately selecting the configuration of the magnetic field matched to self-fields.