Find in Library

A kinetic model based on the Vlasov equation is used to describe the axial drift compression and transverse focusing of an intense ion charge bunch propagating along the axis of a solenoidal focusing field B^{sol}(x). The space charge and current of the ion charge bunch are assumed to be completely neutralized by the electrons provided by a dense background plasma. In the absence of self-field forces, the Vlasov equation is solved exactly for general initial distribution function f_{b}(x,v,0), using the method of characteristics. It is shown that the Vlasov equation possesses a class of exact, dynamically evolving solutions f_{b}(W_{⊥},W_{z}), where W_{⊥} and W_{z} are transverse and longitudinal constants of the motion. Detailed dynamical properties of the charge bunch are calculated during axial compression and transverse focusing for several choices of distribution function f_{b}(W_{⊥},W_{z}).