Electron gun

• Main Authors: MAKO, FREDERICK MICHAEL, PETER, WILLIAM KALMAN
• Format: Patent
• Language: English; French; German
• Published: 26.11.1997
• Edition: 6
• Subjects: BASIC ELECTRIC ELEMENTS; ELECTRIC DISCHARGE TUBES OR DISCHARGE LAMPS; ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; ELECTRICITY; PLASMA TECHNIQUE; PRODUCTION OF ACCELERATED ELECTRICALLY-CHARGED PARTICLES OR OFNEUTRONS; PRODUCTION OR ACCELERATION OF NEUTRAL MOLECULAR OR ATOMICBEAMS

The present invention pertains to an electron gun. The electron gun comprises an RF cavity having a first side with an emitting surface and a second side with a transmitting and emitting section. The gun is also comprised of a mechanism for producing an oscillating force which encompasses the emitting surface and the section so electrons are directed between the emitting surface and the section to contact the emitting surface and generate additional electrons and to contact the section to generate additional electrons or escape the cavity through the section. The section preferably isolates the cavity from external forces outside and adjacent the cavity. The section preferably includes a transmitting and emitting screen. The screen can be of an annular shape, or of a circular shape, or of a rhombohedron shape. The mechanism preferably includes a mechanism for producing an oscillating electric field that provides the force and which has a radial component that prevents the electrons from straying out of the region between the screen and the emitting surface. Additionally, the gun includes a mechanism for producing a magnetic field to force the electrons between the screen and the emitting surface. The present invention pertains to a method for producing electrons. The method comprises the steps of moving at least a first electron in a first direction. Next there is the step of striking a first area with the first electron. Then there is the step of producing additional electrons at the first area due to the first electron. Next there is the step of moving electrons from the first area to a second area and transmitting electrons through the second area and creating more electrons due to electrons from the first area striking the second area. These newly created electrons from the second area then strike the first area, creating even more electrons in a recursive, repeating manner between the first and second areas.