Electron beam sustained plasma as a medium for amplification of electromagnetic radiation in subterahertz frequency band

Abstract

It is demonstrated that low-temperature weakly-ionized nonequilibrium plasma created by a high-energy electron beam in gases (gas mixtures) with Ramsauer minimum in a transport cross section and effective attachment of slow electrons can be used as a medium for amplification and generation of electromagnetic radiation in subterahertz frequency band. Analysis of the electron energy distribution function (EEDF) in Xe — F2 mixture is performed. Energy interval with growing EEDF is found to exist in such a mixture. Such an interval provides the existence of population inversion of the electron spectrum in continuum and is responsible for positive value of a gain factor of microwave radiation. A gain factor depending on an amplified radiation frequency and plasma parameters is analysed.