Apparatus and method for regulating the output of a plasma electron beam source

An apparatus for the controlled production of an electron beam, comprising:

• a plasma;
• a cathode and an acceleration anode operatively connected to the plasma, the acceleration anode being partially transparent to electrons;
• a first voltage source applied between the cathode and the acceleration anode;
• a control anode operatively connected to the plasma and operatively connected to the acceleration anode by a switch;
• and
• a second voltage source operatively connected to the acceleration anode, the second voltage source being configured to accelerate electrons away from the acceleration anode;
• wherein if the switch is open, electrons from the plasma flow to the acceleration anode and are subsequently accelerated to form a beam and if the switch is closed, electrons from the plasma flow to the control anode, the redirection of the electron flow caused by the opening and closing of the switch comprising a controlled production of an electron beam.

An apparatus for the controlled production of an electron beam, comprising:

• a hollow cathode plasma source having an exit orifice at a first end of the cathode cavity;
• an acceleration anode which is partially transparent to electrons situated outside the cavity opposite the exit orifice and operatively connected to a first voltage source providing a voltage between the cathode and acceleration anode;
• a control anode situated at least partially within the cavity and operatively connected to the voltage source by a switch between the control anode and the acceleration anode;
• and
• a second voltage source operatively connected to the acceleration anode, the second voltage source being configured to accelerate electrons away from the acceleration anode;
• wherein if the switch is open when the plasma is present, electrons from the plasma flow out of the cavity through the exit orifice to the acceleration anode and are subsequently accelerated to form a beam, and if the switch is closed when the plasma is present, electrons from the plasma flow to the control anode;
• and
• wherein the electron flow caused by the opening and closing of the switch comprises a controlled production of an electron beam.

A method for controlling a flow of electrons within a plasma, comprising:

• operatively connecting a cathode and a first anode to a plasma;
• applying a voltage between the cathode and the first anode;
• operatively connecting a second anode to the plasma, the second anode further being operatively connected to the first anode by a switch;
• opening the switch to cause electrons from the plasma to flow to the first anode;
• and
• closing the switch to cause electrons from the plasma to flow to the second anode.

A method for producing a controlled electron beam, comprising:

• operatively connecting a cathode and an acceleration anode to a plasma, the acceleration anode being partially transparent;
• operatively connecting a control anode to the plasma, the control anode being operatively connected to the acceleration anode by a switch;
• operatively connecting the cathode and the acceleration anode to a first voltage source;
• operatively connecting the acceleration anode to a second voltage source, the second voltage source being configured to accelerate electrons away from the acceleration anode;
• applying a voltage from the first voltage source between the cathode and the first anode;
• opening the switch to cause substantially all of the electrons from the plasma to flow from the plasma to the acceleration anode, the electrons further passing through the acceleration anode and being subsequently accelerated by the second voltage source to form an electron beam;
• and
• closing the switch to cause substantially all of the electrons from the plasma to flow to the control anode, the electrons flowing to the control anode not forming an electron beam.