Shaping of the cross section of a nonrelativistic high-current electron beam by means of return current leads

Calculation results and experimental data on shaping the cross-section of a nonrelativistic (10–30 keV) high-current (up to 25 kA) electron beam are presented. A circular beam is successfully transformed into a beam with a quasi-rectangular cross section. Transformation is carried out using flat buses or circular pins as return current leads over a short (4 cm) section of the beam transport channel. The distance between the edge of the beam and the leads is comparable to its radius, and the external guiding magnetic field is comparable to the self-magnetic field of the beam. The calculation results are compared with the experimental data.