Linear particle accelerator with seal structure between electrodes and insulators

An electrostatic linear accelerator including a vacuum chamber, a pressure chamber exteriorly of the vacuum chamber, source means for producing a directed beam of charged particles inside the vacuum chamber, a target against which the beam of charged particles is directed,

• a plurality of similar circular primary electrodes disposed in substantially uniform spaced apart side-by-side relation, each electrode having a substantially flat central portion, a substantially flat circumferential portion, and an axially offset portion located intermediate the central and circumferential portions, each electrode having a centrally located opening in the central portion thereof, the major portion of each electrode being disposed within the vacuum chamber, and the spacing between the electrodes defining a vacuum gap,
• a plurality of similar annular support insulators, each being positioned between and bonded to the circumferential portions of a pair of adjacent electrodes to form a seal thereat,
• said electrodes being electrically connected to each other in series and to a source of electrical power, voltage sensing means connected across each adjacent pair of primary electrodes,
• a spark gap assembly connected to said source of electrical power and including a plurality of trigger electrode mechanisms being electrically connected in series, each trigger electrode mechanism being electrically connected to a primary electrode and each including a trigger electrode circuit and two pairs of trigger electrodes, the trigger electrodes of each pair being disposed in spaced apart proximal relation to each other and defining a spark gap therebetween, and
• a plurality of capacitors of predetermined capacitance, each being electrically connected across a pair of trigger electrode mechanisms, each capacitor being operable to release electrical energy as a spark across spark gap between the trigger electrodes of the associated trigger electrode mechanism and the associated primary electrode in response to a voltage drop across a voltage sensing means between a pair of adjacent primary electrodes to thereby prevent excessive energy dissipation during electrical breakdown.