Electron-beam guiding and phase-mix damping by a laser-ionized channel

An ultraviolet-laser-ionized channel in low-pressure benzene has been successfully used to guide and focus a 7-kA relativistic electron beam over distances up to 4 m. In addition, phase-mix damping of coherent, transverse beam motion has been demonstrated. A simple analytical model of the equilibrium beam profile is presented which is in reasonable agreement with the data.