Chaos and Formation of Structures in an Electron Flow with a Virtual Cathode in the Bounded Drift Tube

The electron beam with a virtual cathode (VC) in the drift tube is investigated with the help of a 1.5-dimensional relativistic electromagnetic code. The existence of complex modes, including chaotic modes,is demonstrated. The dynamic nature of chaos in the considered system is revealed. Physical processes in the flow are investigated, and it is found that the initiation of chaotic dynamics of the electron beam with VC isrelated to the nonlinear interaction of structures formed in the system.