A technique for improving the transmission of intense electron beams through cusp magnetic field in vacuum using dielectric drift tubes has been demonstrated. The plasma produced by the material of the dielectric tube increases the transmission efficiency by a factor of four over vacuum values.

Experimental results on interaction of a rotating relativistic electron beam with plasma and neutral gas are presented. The rotating relativistic electron beam has been propagated up to a distance of 150 cm in a plasma. The response of the plasma to the rotating electron beam is found to be of magnetic diffusion type over a plasma density range 10¹¹–10¹³ cm⁻³. Excitation of the axial and azimuthal return currents by the rotating beam and subsequent trapping of the azimuthal return current layer by the magnetic mirror field are observed. A field-reversed configuration has been formed by the rotating relativistic electron beam when injected into neutral hydrogen gas. We have observed field reversal up to three times the initial field in an axial length of 100 cm.

This paper briefly describes the fundamental principles of the instruments used for accurate measurement of hydrostatic pressure and in particular the use of piston gauges as primary pressure standards. Different methods for the calibration of secondary standards have been discussed and in particular, emphasis has been given to the calibration of secondary piston gauges against the primary standards by the cross-float method along with the evaluation of uncertainties attached to different correction factors associated with the measurement of pressure from these gauges. The importance of secondary pressure standards in the region 0.1 GPa to several GPa has also been defined.