Method of and apparatus for generating uniform elongated electron beam with the aid of multiple filaments
AssigneeEnergy Sciences Inc.
InventorsTzvi Avnery, Arthur W. Sommerstein, Rolfe W. Graham
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Abstract
A novel electron beam apparatus and technique wherein a plurality of longitudinally extending heated filaments is employed, each similarly offset laterally of a central longitudinal axis, but with successive filaments alternately disposed on opposite sides of said axis and cooperating with a first low velocity accelerating stage comprising staggered grid slots and openings, and a high velocity second accelerating stage to provide long uniform longitudinal electron beams.
Claims15
A multiple filament longitudinally extending elongated electron beam gun apparatus for exiting a substantially uniform linear beam of electrons through a longitudinally extending electron beam window, symmetrically along and aside its longitudinal central axis, having, in combination, a plurality of voltage-fed similar successive longitudinally extending substantially coplanar filaments each similarly offset laterally of said longitudinal axis but with successive filaments alternately disposed on opposite sides of said longitudinal axis and with their adjacent ends somewhat overlapping in the longitudinal direction;
- a first acceleration stage grid means having a longitudinal opening alined with and parallel to the said electron beam window and serving as a high voltage terminal to accelerate electrons from the filaments at relatively low speed so as to provide a relatively negligible effect upon the final direction of the electrons through the beam window;
- and a second stage accelerating electrode means having a longitudinal opening alined with and parallel to that of the grid means and disposed near the beam window for accelerating the electrons leaving the grid means opening at a relatively high speed to exit the beam window with substantially uniform beam characteristics and direction, along and to the side of the said longitudinal axis.
A method of providing a substantially uniform elongated longitudinally extending linear beam of electrons for exiting through a longitudinally extending electron beam window, symmetrically along and aside its longitudinal central axis, that comprises, generating successive similar longitudinally extending substantially co-planar linear electron segments, each similarly offset laterally of said longitudinal axis but with successive segments alternately disposed on opposite sides of said longitudinal axis and with adjacent segment ends somewhat overlapping in longitudinal direction;
- initially accelerating the generated successive electron segments at relatively low speed to provide a relatively negligible effect upon the final direction of the electrons through the beam window;
- and further accelerating the electron segments at a relatively high speed to exit the beam with substantially uniform beam characteristics and direction along and to the sides of said longitudinal axis.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.