High Current Electron Gun for Space Flight.
Abstract
The purpose of this project is to develop a high energy, high current electron gun capable of modulation up to 100 kHz for use in rocket and space shuttle flights. The energy capability ideally should cover the 1 keV to 50 KeV range while the current capability should be several tins of amperes. A module of such an electron gun was constructed on a 4.5 inch Conflat flange. The configuration was as close to the final flight arrangement as possible, keeping in mind the need for flexibility and experimentation. The structure was a triode arrangement with four separate cathodes and control grids. This was changed to a tetrode after early experiments. Results indicate that this type of approach is ultimately limited by fundamental space charge and current density considerations, rather than by the mechanical difficulties of gun design. At 1 keV beam energy, the maximum beam current density possible within the gun was 0.3 A/sq. cm. Delivery of this beam onto a target of more than 1 cm away proved impossible.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 01, 1986
- Accession Number
- ADA178467
Entities
People
- G. Dyer