Simulations of electron generation and dynamics in a hollow cathode with applied magnetic field

Hollow cathode devices are promising as compact electron and ion sources, as sources for radiation and as fast switches for pulsed power applications. Researchers have shown in previous work how one can use an applied magnetic field to induce large impedance changes in a hollow cathode system, with possible applications to switching. Using an electrostatic particle-in-cell (PIC) code, we explore the dynamics of a hollow cathode device including an applied magnetic field. We show results for the full kinetic energy distribution of the electrons, demonstrating the formation of pendular electrons with no magnetic field and the inhibition of pendular electrons with a magnetic field. Our results also show the pendular electrons that form in the case of no applied field have a distribution indicating they undergo up to 10 ionization events, with four being the most likely number of events. Finally, we use an approximate radiation diagnostic to show that our results agree qualitatively with the experimental results of Rocca and Floyd.