USA As Represented by Secretary of the Navy

Redge A Mahaffey

Jeffry Golden

Christos A Kapetanakos

John A Pasour

Phillip A Sprangle

Gerald Cooperstein

Shyke A Goldstein

J Gary Eden

A Wahab Ali

Spencer J Marsh

An inverse reflex tetrode (IRT) for producing an intense pulsed beam of i includes a real cathode having a curved or conical surface which is substantially transparent to the ions; first anode and second anode, or grid, which are spaced apart and are at the same potential, the first anode being between the real cathode and the second anode and having a curved or conical surface approximately parallel to the surface of the real cathode, and also being formed from a dielectric material such as polyethylene; a curved or conical hollow anode stalk which supports both anodes; and a virtual cathode which is formed by electrons that are emitted by the real cathode and pass through the first anode. The real cathode and first and second anodes are enclosed in a vacuum chamber and are immersed in an applied external magnetic field. The IRT receives an electrical pulse from a high-voltage pulse generator. The real cathode emits electrons which accelerate toward the first anode, pass through the first anode and form a virtual cathode between the first and second anodes. Most of the electrons oscillate between the virtual cathode and the real cathode and form a plasma sheath on the surfaces of the first anode. Some ions from the plasma propagate toward the second anode, and some ions propagate toward the real cathode. The ions arrive at the second anode with zero velocity, while the other ions pass through the real cathode and form a propagating ion beam.

Intense ion beam generation with an inverse reflex tetrode (IRT)

A high-power gas laser pumped by an intense, pulsed, space charge-and current-neutralized ion beam. A high-pressure gas in the laser cavity is ionized by an ion beam. Atomic processes occur which result in a population inversion for the excited states of the gas. Coherent radiation is then emitted by the excited gas atoms in the inverted state. The light is amplified as it traverses the gas. Multiple traversal can be obtained by using an optical cavity comprising mirrors which reflect the light into the excited gas so that the light can be further amplified with each pass through the cavity. Extraction of light energy is done by using a partially transmitting mirror as part of the optical cavity.

Ion-beam-excited gas laser

An improved diode for forming an intense electron beam and propagating the eam. The diode includes a cathode having a bore, and a rod-shaped anode having a medial tapered section which extends, approximately coaxially, through the bore of the cathode. The anode tapers at or near the cathode and is formed from electrically conductive material. The cathode is made from a material which rapidly emits electrons during the early stage of an applied voltage pulse. The electrons strike the anode and form a plasma thereon. Sufficient anode current and the formation of sufficient anode plasma affect the magnetic and electric fields to pinch the electrons closer to each other and to force the electron beam to propagate along the anode and away from the cathode and voltage supply. The tapered section of the anode increases the velocity of the pinch and the density of the electron beam.

Rod pinch diode

A reflex tetrode device for efficiently generating intense, pulsed unidirional ion beams. The device includes two thin, semitransparent anodes spaced from a real cathode which is maintained at ground potential. The first anode is spaced from and faces the real cathode. The second anode is spaced a short distance from the first anode and a virtual cathode is formed beyond the second anode when a sufficiently high electron current flows from the real cathode and through the anodes. The anodes are ring-like or disc-like structures secured to the edges of a support member with their planes perpendicular to the axis of the device between the real and virtual cathodes. The anode structure (i.e., the support member together with the two anodes) is connected to a pulsed high-voltage generator which is operated in positive polarity. Consequently, both anodes are at the same positive potential. The first anode, because of its material, does not readily form an ionic plasma when electrons pass through it, but the second anode does.

Reflex tetrode for producing an efficient unidirectional ion beam

A reflecting electron tube for producing high-power, high-frequency, monoomatic microwave pulses includes an anode which produces little or no ion flux when struck by electrons emitted from a cathode, and requires no applied, external magnetic field. An anode support holding the anode and a cathode shank which supports the cathode are positioned within a vacuum chamber such that the anode is closely spaced from the cathode. The anode support is connected to a pulsed high-voltage supply located external to the chamber. The anode is formed from a material which does not produce a significant amount of ion flux but does permit electrons emitted from the cathode to oscillate through the anode. Electrons oscillating in phase bunch together within the potential well of the system and emit microwave radiation.

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Wheaton, MD, United States of America

Redge A Mahaffey