Modulating-Anode Space Particle Accelerator for Controlled Plasma Wave Generation

This research aims to enhance the performance of a mod-anode electron gun for future space-based experiments, specifically for Beam2PIE, an advanced particle accelerator designed to investigate beam-plasma interactions and their role in space wave generation, particularly for Radiation Belt Remediation (RBR) applications. Whistler-mode waves, Beam2PIE's primary focus, play a critical role in Earth's magnetosphere dynamics by scattering relativistic electrons into the loss cone, regulating the radiation belts. Lessons from the 2023 NASA-LANL sounding-rocket mission Beam-PIE informed improvements in electron-source resilience under harsh conditions. Early studies indicate that introducing a secondary anode between the cathode and main anode offers a robust alternative by enabling efficient beam modulation with reduced current and voltage requirements. Understanding these wave-particle interactions is essential for effective RBR strategies and the design of reliable space-based particle accelerators.