Ion acceleration in a pulse vacuum discharge

A relation between the mean average energy of accelerated ions Ei and the maximum rate of current rise I in a vacuum discharge is established. The relationship takes the power form <(epsilon)over bar>(i) alpha I-1.3 for different ion species over a wide range of discharge' parameters for I>I-0 = 3 x 10(8) A s(-1). For smaller values of I the corresponding value of <(epsilon)over bar>(i) is almost independent of the discharge parameters. The ion mass and charge-dependence of EI are also discussed.