Broadband transverse field interaction continuous beam amplifier

A broadband microwave amplification device, comprising:

• an elongated coaxial cylindrical cathode structure including a continuous cathode electrode which is operable to emit electrons substantially all along its length;
• an elongated coaxial cylindrical electron collector structure including a continuous collector electrode extending in the same longitudinal direction as and located outwardly from said continuous cathode electrode;
• slow wave means for modulating said electrons including an elongated coaxial cylindrical continuous modulating grid structure extending in said same longitudinal direction and transversely across the direct path of electrons between said continuous cathode and collector structures;
• slow wave means for demodulating the modulated electrons including an elongated coaxial cylindrical continuous demodulating grid structure located between and co-extensive with said modulating grid and collector structures in the longitudinal and transverse directions across the direct path of electrons;
• input RF signal propagation means including said cathode and said modulating grid structure for propagating an input RF wave longitudinally along the electron path for modulating and thereby prebunching said electrons into beamlets by the process of transverse wave interaction;
• and
• output RF signal propagation means including said collector and said demodulating grid structure for propagating therein an induced RF output wave in the same direction as said input RF wave and resulting from said prebunched electrons traversing said demodulating grid.