Hughes Aircraft Company

Edward A Adler

Robert T Longo

Apparatus for measuring gas pressures in vacuum type devices such as traveling-wave tubes is disclosed including an elongated hollow tube with negatively biased electrodes at each end. An axial magnetic field is induced in the chamber, and electrons are injected into the chamber and caused to travel in a confined beam substantially longitudinally between the two electrodes. Electrons will randomly hit gas molecules within the chamber and be deflected outwardly in stepped fashion to the wall of the tube. Electrons impinging upon the tube wall form a current dependent upon the gas pressure within the chamber. A current meter attached to the tube and calibrated as a function of pressure indicates the gas pressure.

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Culver City, CA, United States of America

Edward A Adler