Floating grid electron source

Abstract

A system comprises: an RF cavity; a main emitter; a floating grid configured to capture a portion of the electron current emitted by the main emitter; and a discharging emitter in electrical contact with the floating grid and configured to discharge the floating grid. The floating grid and the discharging emitter are electrically insulated from the main emitter and from the RF cavity, when the RF cavity is not in operation. The DC bias of the floating grid is adjusted so that the ending emission phase of the electron beam from the floating grid occurs earlier than the starting phase of back-bombardment of the electrons in the RF cavity, thereby suppressing the back-bombardment of the electrons. A floating grid can be also placed between the RF drive grid and the cathode in an IOT, thereby suppressing arcing of the cathode in the IOT.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.