Dynamics of intense and finite length ion beam propagating in plasma channel

Time evolution of the distribution function of a finite length ion beam propagating in a plasma channel is calculated and the obtained solution is valid for a long enough time to utilize it for an inertial confinement fusion (ICF) driver. In order to obtain the time evolution of the distribution function of the finite length ion beam, we solved the Maxwell-Vlasov equations. And also a profile of a return current which is induced by an electromagnetic interaction between the ion beam and channel plasma is calculated. The return current influences the time evolution of the ion beam and results in nonlinear effects on the Vlasov equation. This nonlinear system is solved using perturbation method with the aid of the operator method in order to avoid secularity in the solution. We applied it to solve two interesting cases; the Gaussian beam model and a hollow beam model. From a numerical estimate of the forces acting on the ion beam, we can see that the beam transport is more feasible with the hollow model tha...