space charge

Space charge refers to the accumulation of electric charge within a confined region, such as inside a particle beam or vacuum tube, where like charges (electrons or ions) repel each other. This mutual repulsion causes the charges to spread out, which can alter the behavior of the beam or device. In applications like electron microscopes or particle accelerators, space charge effects can limit performance by causing the beam to expand or lose focus. Managing space charge is essential for maintaining beam stability and precision in many technological and scientific systems.