Effect of longitudinal applied magnetic field on the self-pinched critical current in intense electron beam diode

The effect of applied longitudinal magnetic field on the self-pinched critical current in the intense electron beam diode is discussed. The self-pinched critical current is derived and its validity is tested by numerical simulations. The results shows that an applied longitudinal magnetic field tends to increase the self-pinched critical current. Without the effect of anode plasma, the maximal diode current approximately equals the self-pinched critical current with the longitudinal magnetic field applied; when self-pinched occurs, the diode current approaches the self-pinched critical current.