A method for combined control of an electron beam in a source with a multi-arc grid plasma emitter

The paper proposes and implements the principle of operation of an electron source with a multi-arc grid plasma emitter, which makes it possible to modulate the electron beam current during a submillisecond pulse by simultaneously modulating the amplitude of the arc discharge current and modulating the inter-grid voltage by introducing an additional grid that overlaps the end of the hollow anode and regulates the potential barrier for plasma electrons. The proposed control method makes it possible to expand the range of adjustment of the electron beam current by four orders of magnitude.