Radial radio frequency (RF) electron guns
AssigneeTriad National Security, LLC
InventorsJohn Lewellen, John Harris
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Radial radio frequency (RF) electron guns and radial RF electron gun systems are provided that are capable of generating an electron beam that can propagate either radially inward, towards the axis of a cylinder, or radially outward from the axis. A beam source capable of generating a radially inwardly propagating electron beam, while perhaps not particularly useful as a source for a higher-energy accelerator, offers potential advantages for materials processing, as the geometry allows irradiation from all sides of an enclosed material flow with a single structure. Other potential applications include, but are not limited to, atmospheric plasma generation, radiation damage testing, and possibly, novel electron lens-type devices for hadron accelerators.
Claims19
An apparatus, comprising:
- a first cell defining a first cavity;
- a second cell defining a second cavity, the second cell at least partially surrounded by the first cell;
- a plurality of beam tubes, each beam tube comprising at least two segments, at least some of the plurality of segments connected to the first cell;
- and
- a plurality of beam sources, each beam source configured to project an electron beam into a respective beam tube, wherein
- a subset of the plurality of segments connect the first cell to the second cell.
A radial radio frequency (RF) electron gun, comprising:
- a first cell defining a first cavity;
- a second cell defining a second cavity, the second cell at least partially surrounded by the first cell;
- a plurality of beam tubes, each beam tube comprising a plurality of segments and spaced at an equal distance and angle from one another radially around the first cell and the second cell;
- and
- a plurality of beam sources, each beam source configured to project an electron beam into a respective beam tube, wherein
- at least some of the plurality of segments connect the first cell to the second cell.
A radial radio frequency (RF) electron gun, comprising:
- a first cell defining a first cavity;
- a second cell defining a second cavity, the second cell at least partially surrounded by the first cell;
- a plurality of beam tubes, each beam tube comprising a plurality of segments;
- a plurality of beam sources, each beam source configured to project an electron beam into a respective beam tube;
- and
- a pipe positioned to extend through a center of the radial RF electron gun, wherein
- at least some of the plurality of segments connect the first cell to the second cell,
- a portion of the pipe is surrounded by the first cell and the second cell, and
- the pipe is configured to carry material to be irradiated by the radial RF electron gun.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.