NANOSECOND SWITCHING OF AN ELECTRON BEAM.
Abstract
A triple grid electron beam switch was designed to provide long current pulses with fast risetimes and minimum energy dipersion of the current. Theory was developed for a general, idealized switch in which the center conductor of a transmission line became the center grid of the triple grid switch. Thus the voltage on this grid, and the field that switched the electrons, could be that of a nanosecond pulse generator, with no distortion cuased by lumped (discret) electrodes. The theory indicated that transit time effects still limit the operation of the switch, making the requirements for fast risetimes and low energy dispersions incompatible, but that present equipment was capable of nanosecond risetimes with 10% energy dispersions. A switch was built to the theoretical design, and tested on 20-50 volt, 10 to the -8 to 10 to the -5 ampere electron beams. The output current risetime was at most 6 ns, the risetime of the detector used. Theory also indicated a second mode of operation which might be useful. In this mode the electron beam is used at a distance from the switch, so that the energy dispersion of the beam has time to improve the risetime of the current. There was some indication in the evaluation that this effect occurs. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 01, 1966
- Accession Number
- AD0634505
Entities
People
- Raymond V. Sutton
Organizations
- Air Force Institute of Technology