Mathematical Simulation of the Distribution of the Electron Beam Current during Pulsed Heating of a Metal Target

Abstract: We study a model of the current distribution during heating of the surface of a tungstensample under pulsed exposure to an electron beam. The model is based on solving the equationsof electrodynamics and the two-phase Stefan problem for calculating the temperature in thesample region using a cylindrical coordinate system. The model parameters were taken fromexperiments at the “Beam of Electrons for Materials Test Applications” (BETA) stand created atthe Budker Institute of Nuclear Physics. The particular case of axial symmetry is consideredwithout taking the electromotive forces into account. The current is considered as a possiblesource of rotation of the substance which is observed in the experiment. The values of the currentand the acceleration of matter at a surface temperature of over 6000K were obtained. The results of the simulationshow that, to obtain an acceleration capable of initiating the experimentally observed rotationof the melt, it is necessary to take into account some alternative mechanisms of creating a currentin the system with consideration of the evaporation of tungsten above the plate. © 2021, Pleiades Publishing, Ltd.