Measuring the mechanical recoil impulse of a polymeric target upon impact of a high power electron beam

Abstract

A method for measuring the mechanical recoil impulse of a target produced by the relativistic electron beam of the Calamary accelerator is described. A detector based on a piezoelectric sensor is used in measurements. Results of measurements are presented for the mechanical recoil impulse produced by the relativistic electron beam with an energy as high as 300 keV, a current of up to 30 kA, and a duration of ~100 ns that is incident on an epoxy target. The energy flux density on the target surface is varied in the range of 1–10 GW/cm². The maximum measured impulse value is 0.32 N · s at an energy flux density of 10 GW/cm² (an energy fluence of 810 J/cm2).