11 Patent Number: 5,018,180

United States Patent (19) (45) Date of Patent: May 21, 1991
Shoulders
2153140A 8/1985 United Kingdom.
54). ENERGY CONVERSION USING HIGH 2190786A 11/1987 United Kingdom .
CHARGE DENSTY OTHER PUBLICATIONS
(75) Inventor: Kenneth R. Shoulders, Austin, Tex. Boyer, T. H., “The Classical Vacuum", Scientific Amer
73) Assignee: Jupiter Toy Company, Austin, Tex. ican, Aug. 1985, pp. 70-78.
Morrow, D. L., Phillips, J. D., Stringfield, R. M. Jr.,
(21) Appl. No.: 347,262 Doggett, W. O. and Bennett, W. H., "Concentration
22) Filed: May 3, 1989 and Guidance of Intense Relativistic Electron Beams',
Applied Physics Letters, vol. 19, No. 10, Nov. 15, 1971,
Related U.S. Application Data pp. 441-443.
63 Continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 183,506, May 3, 1988, Bennett, W. H., "Self-Focusing Streams', Physical Re
abandoned, which is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. view, vol. 98, No. 6, Jun. 15, 1955, pp. 1584-1593.
137,244, Jan. 6, 1988, abandoned. Bennett, Willard H., "A More General Theory of Mag
51) Int. Cl............................................... H01J 23/34
netic Self-Focusing', Abstract of presented paper,
52 U.S. C. .................................... 378/119; 328/233; 1954.
343/739 "Bulgarian Sensation in Physics?', report from Sofia
(58) Field of Search ............. 343/731, 739; 333/99 R, BTA, Bulgaria, Nov. 28, 1988, 2 pages.
333/236; 378/119; 328/233 Bergstrom, Arne, "Electromagnetic Theory of Strong
Interaction', Physical Review D, vol. 8, No. 12, Dec. 15,
(56) References Cited 1973,
U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS Boyer,pp.T. 4394-4402.
H., "A Brief Survey of Stochastic Electrody
2,376,439 5/1945 Machlett et al. .
namics', from Foundations of Radiation Theory and
3,526,575 9/1970 Bennett .
Quantun Electrodynamics, Barut, A. O., editor, Plenum
3,864,640 2/1975 Bennett . Press, 1980, pp. 49-63.
4,088,919
4,459,594
5/1978
7/1984
Clampitt et al. .
Hall et al. ........................... 343/731
(List continued on next page.)
4,488,181 12/1984 Hafer . Primary Examiner-Carolyn E. Fields
4,688,241 8/1987 Peugoet. Assistant Examiner-David P. Porta
4,736,250 4/1988 Blazo . Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Lowe, Price, LeBlanc,
4,746,934 5/1988 Shoening . Becker & Shur
FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
WO86/06572 11/1986 PCT Int'l Appl. . 57) ABSTRACT
374889 6/1932 United Kingdom . Disclosed are apparatus and method for obtaining en
503211 6/1937 United Kingdom . ergy from high electrical charge density entities. The
730862 6/1955 United Kingdom . energy may be received by the conductor of a traveling
730920 6/1955 United Kingdom. wave device positioned along the path which the propa
888955 2/1962 United Kingdom. gating entities follow. Multiple traveling wave devices
895131 5/1962 United Kingdom .
10341 18 6/1966 United Kingdom . may be combined. Energy output from a traveling wave
1136144 12/1968 United Kingdom . device may also be directed to the generation of a subse
1345893 2/1974 United Kingdom. quent such entity. Thermal energy may also be obtained
1358571 7/1974 United Kingdom. from an EV.
1394.125 5/1975 United Kingdom.
1485273 9/1977 United Kingdom .
1513413 6/1978 United Kingdom. 42 Claims, 38 Drawing Sheets
2195046A 3/1985 United Kingdom .
55O 56O 564 554 662 572

57O
 5,018,180
Page 2

OTHER PUBLICATIONS "Internal Structure of Electron-Beam Filaments',

Boyer, T. H., "Quantum Zero-Point Energy and Lon Physical Review A, vol. 22, No. 5, Nov. 1980, pp.
g-Range Forces', Annals of Physics, vol. 56, 1970, pp. 2211-2217.
Puthoff, H. E., "Ground State of Hydrogen as a Zero
474-503.
Boyle, W. S., Kisliuk, P. and Germer, L. H., "Electrical
w Point-Fluctuation-Determined State', Physical Reivew
D, vol. 35, No. 10, May 15, 1987, pp. 3266-3269; Sum
Breakdown in High Vacuum", Journal of Applied Phys mary attached.
ics, vol. 26, No. 6, Jun. 1955, pp. 720-725. Schwirzke, F., “Laser induced Unipolar Arcing', from
Forward, R. L., "Extracting Electrical Energy from Laser Interaction and Related Plasma Phenomena, vol. 6,
the Vacuum by Cohesion of Charged Foliated Conduc Hara, H. and Miley, G. H., editors, Plenum Publishing,
tors", Physical Review B, vol. 30, No. 4, Aug. 15, 1984, 1984, pp. 335-352. -
pp. 1700-1702. Schwirzke, F., "Unipolar Arc Model”, Journal of Nu
Kahles, J. E., "Electrical Discharge Machining clear Materials, vol. 128 and 129, 1984, 609-612.
(EDM)', from Metals Handbook, 8th Ed., vol. 3, Ma Shoulders, K. R., "Microelectronics Using Elec
chining, Lyman, T., editor, American Society for Met tron-Beam-Activated Machining Techniques', from
als, pp. 227-233. Advances in Computers, vol. 2, Alt, F. L., editor, Aca
Kisliuk, P. P., "Arcing at Telephone Relay Contacts', demic Press, 1961, pp. 135-293. -
Bell Laboratories Record, vol. 34, Jun. 1956, pp. Shoulders, K. R., "Toward Complex Systems', from
218-222.
Vacuum Arcs. Theory and Application, Lafferty, J. M., Symposium on Microelectronics and Large Systems, Nov.
Editor, John Wiley & Sons, 1980. 17 and 18, 1964, Washington, D.C., Mathis, S.J., Wiley,
Malmberg, J. H., and O'Neil, T. M. "Pure Electron R. E. and Spandorfer, L. M., editors, Spartan Books and
Plasma, Liquid and Crystal', Physical Review Letters, MacMillan, 1965, pp. 97-128.
vol.39, No. 21, Nov. 21, 1977, pp. 1333-1336. Thin Film Processes, Vossen, J. L. and Kern, W., Edi
Mesyats, G. A., "Fast Processes on the Cathode in a tors, Academic Press, 1978.
Vacuum Discharge", IEEE Proceedings, Xth Int'l Sym Flat-Panel Displays and CRTs, Tannas, L. E., Jr., Edi
posium on Discharge and Electrical Insulation in Vac tor, Van Norstrand Reinhold, 1985.
uum, Oct. 25-28, 1982, Columbia, S.C., pp. 37-42. "Eye of the Storm', from The Sharper Image, May
Mesyats, G. A., "Explosive Processes on the Cathode in 1988, catalog, p. 45 (though not indicated on the page).
a Vacuum Discharge", IEEE Transactions on Electrical "Blue Lightning', one page literature from The
Insulation, vol. EI-18, No. 3, Jun. 1983, pp. 218-225. Sharper Image (but not noted as such as on the page).
Nardi, V., Bostick, W. H., Feugeas, J., and Prior, W.,
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1
nomena, pertinent to the present invention. Whereas the
ENERGY CONVERSION USING HIGH CHARGE high charge density entities of the present invention
DENSTY may be present, if unknown, in various discharges, the
present invention discloses an identification of the enti
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED 5 ties, techniques for generating them, isolating them and
APPLICATIONS manipulating them, and applications for their use. The
This application is a continuation-in-part of co-pend technology of the present invention defines, at least in
ing U.S. patent application Ser. No. 07/183,506 filed part, a new technology with varied applications, includ
May 3, 1988, now abandoned, which is a continuation 10
ing, but not limited to, execution of very fast processes,
in-part of co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. transfer of energy utilizing miniaturized components,
07/137,244, filed Jan. 6, 1988, now abandoned. time analysis of other phenomena and spot production
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
of X-rays.
An explanation and a discussion of the historical
1. Field of the Invention 15
treatment of zero-point energy of the vacuum are given
The present invention pertains to the production, by Timothy H. Boyer in "The Classical Vacuum," in
manipulation and exploitation of high electrical charge Scientific American, p. 70 (August, 1985). R. L. For
density entities. More particularly, the present inven ward, "Extracting Electrical Energy from the Vacuum
tion relates to high negative electrical charge density by Cohesion of Charged Foliated Conductors," Phys.
entities, generated by electrical discharge production, Rev. B30, 1700 (1984) discusses the possibility of obtain
and which may be utilized in the transfer of electrical 20 ing electrical energy from the zero-point energy.
energy.
2. Brief Description of Prior Art SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Intense plasma discharges, high intensity electron The present invention involves a high charge density
beams and like phenomena have been the subjects of 25 entity
various studies. Vacuum Arcs. Theory and Application, tained,which I believe is a relatively discrete, self-con
negatively charged, high density state of matter
Edited by J. M. Lafferty, John Wiley & Sons, 1980, that appears to be produced by the application of a high
includes a brief history of the study of vacuum dis electrical field between a cathode and an anode. I have
charges, as well as detailed analyses of various features named this entity ELECTRUM VALIDUM, abbrevi
of vacuum arcs in general. Attention has been focused 30 ated "EV,' from the Greek "elektron' for electronic
on cathode spots and the erosion of cathodes used in charge, and from the Latin "valere' meaning to have
producing discharges, as well as anode spots and struc
ture of the discharges. The structure of electron beams power, to be strong, and having the ability to unite. As
has been described in terms of vortex filaments. Various will be explained in more detail hereinafter, EV's are
investigators have obtained evidence for discharge also found to exist in a gross electrical discharge. In the
structures from target damage studies of witness plate 35 present invention there are derived discrete EV's com
records formed by the incidence of the discharge upon prising individual EV's as well as EV "chains' identi
a plane plate interposed in the electrical path of the fied hereinbelow. Regardless of the nature of the phe
discharge between the source and the anode. Pinhole nomena, charged particles are produced such that plu
camera apparatus has also disclosed geometric structure ral discrete optical energy pulses are derived in a chan
indicative of localized dense sources of other radiation, 40 nel or slot of a dielectric in response to a single voltage
such as X-rays and neutrons, attendant to plasma focus pulse being applied to the cathode. For ease of refer
and related discharge phenomena. Examples of anoma ence the charged particles which produce these pulses
lous structure in the context of a plasma environment are reference to herein as EV's.
are varied, including lightning, in particular ball light It is an object of the present invention to obtain elec
ning, and sparks of any kind, including sparks resulting 45 trical energy from an EV propagating, for example, by
from the opening or closing of relays under high volt an electrical conductor arrayed in periodic form, or by
age, or under low voltage with high current flow. a conducting body having one or more openings
The use of a dielectric member to constrain or guide through which electromagnetic radiation may pass.
a high current discharge is known from studies of Thermal energy may also be obtained upon the collec
charged particle beams propagating in close proximity 50 tion or dissipation of an EV.
to a dielectric body. In such investigations, the entire It is yet another object of the invention to propagate
particle flux extracted from the source was directed an EV by a traveling wave conductor, or a conductor
along the dielectric guide. Consequently, the behavior with radiation emission ports, and to extract energy
of the particle flux was dominated by characteristics of converted
the gross discharge. As used herein, "gross discharge' 55 Multiplefrom the vacuum by means the EV.
traveling wave devices may be joined to
means, in part, the electrons, positive ions, negative gether in a single circuit. An EV used to extract electri
ions, neutral particles and photons typically included in cal energy may be so used
an electrical discharge. Properties of particular discrete electrical energy from such anagain in a circulator; dc
structure present in the discharge are not clearly differ erate another EV used to obtainEVelectrical
may be used to gen
energy. Fur
entiated from average properties of the gross discharge.
In such studies utilizing a dielectric guide, the guide is ther, energy from the traveling wave conductor of a
employed wholly for path constraint purposes. Dielec traveling wave device may be used to generate another
tric guides are utilized in the context of the present EV. A bank or a stack of traveling wave devices may be .
invention for the manipulation of high charge density formed to obtain electrical energy.
entities as opposed to the gross discharge. 65
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The structure in plasma discharges which has been
noted by prior investigators may not reflect the same FIG. 1 is a top, plan view of an EV generator includ
causal circumstances, nor even the same physical phe ing a witness plate for detecting the production of EV's;
 5,018, 180
3 4.
FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the EV generator of FIG. FIG. 35 is a top plan view of another form of variable
1; time delay EV splitter;
FIG. 3 is a side elevation in cross section, partly FIG. 36 is a top plan view of an EV deflection
schematic, of another form of EV generator; switch;
FIG. 4 is an enlarged side elevation in cross section of 5 FIG. 37 is a vertical cross section of the EV deflec
a wetted metal cathode for use in the EV generator of tion switch of FIG. 36, taken along line 37-37 of FIG.
FIG. 3, for example; 36;
FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 of another form of FIG. 38 is an end elevation of the deflection switch of
wetted metal cathode; FIGS. 36 and 37;
FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIGS. 4 and 5 of still 10 FIG. 39 is a top plan view of an EV oscilloscope;
another form of wetted metal cathode; FIG. 40 is an end elevation of the EV oscilloscope of
FIG. 7 is a side elevation of a cathode and an anode FIG. 39, equipped with a cover and illustrating the use
on a dielectric substrate; of an optical magnification device with the oscillo
FIG. 8 is a side elevation in partial section of a cylin scope;
drically-symmetric EV generator utilizing a separator; 5 FIG. 41 is a side elevation, partially cut away, of a
FIG. 9 is a side elevation in partial section of a planar electron camera showing an EV source positioned in
EV generator with a separator; front thereof;
FIG. 10 is a top plan view of the separator cover FIG. 42 is a vertical cross section of the electron
shown in FIG. 9; camera of FIG. 41, taken along line 42-42 of FIG. 41;
FIG. 11 is a top plan view of a planar RC EV guide; 20 FIG. 43 is a side elevation of a camera as shown in
FIG. 12 is an end elevation of the EV guide of FIG. FIGS. 41 and 42, mounted to view an EV oscilloscope,
11, equipped with a cover; and showing the lens system of a television camera
FIG. 13 is a top plan view of another form of planar mounted to view the output of the electron camera;
RC EV guide; FIG. 44 is a schematic representation showing the use
FIG. 14 is an end elevation of the EV guide of FIG.
25 of multiple electron cameras to observe the behavior of
13; EV's;
FIG. 15 is a side elevation in cross section of a cylin FIG. 45 is a schematic, isometric representation of a
drically-symmetric RC EV guide; planar multielectrode EV generator;
FIG. 46 is a top plan view of another planar multi
FIG. 16 is a side elevation in cross section of another 30 electrode generator;
form of cylindrically-symmetric RC EV guide; FIG. 47 is a vertical cross section of the multielec
FIG. 17 is a side elevation of an EV generator in trode EV generator of FIG. 46, taken along line 47-47
conjunction with an EV guide utilizing a gas environ of FIG, 46;
ment; FIG. 48 is an end view of the multielectrode genera
FIG. 18 is an end elevation of the generator and guide 35 tor of FIGS. 46 and 47;
of FIG. 17; FIG. 49 is a side elevation in cross section of an "elec
FIG. 19 is a top plan view of an EV guide system trodeless' EV source;
using optical reflectors; FIG. 50 is a side elevation, partly schematic, of a
FIG. 20 is an exploded view in perspective of an LC traveling wave tube utilizing EV's;
EV guide; FIG. 51 is a top plan view, partly schematic, of a
FIG. 21 is an exploded view in perspective of another planar traveling wave circuit utilizing EV's;
form of LC EV guide; FIG. 52 is a vertical cross section of a pulse generator
FIG.22 is a top plan view of still another form of EV utilizing EV's;
generator in which the cathode is integral with a propa FIG. 53 is an end view of the pulse generator of FIG.
gating surface for the EV's within a guide channel; 45 52;
FIG, 23 is a vertical cross section of the EV genera FIG. 54 is a side elevation in partial section of a field
tor of FIG. 22 taken along section lines 23-23 of FIG. emission EV generator utilizing the principles of the
22; pulse generator of FIGS. 52 and 53;
FIG. 24 is an end elevation of the EV generator FIG.55 is a top plan view of a planar field emission
shown in FIGS. 22 and 23, equipped with a cover; 50 EV generator;
FIG. 25 is a side elevation in cross section of a cylin FIG. 56 is a circuit diagram for operating the field
drically-symmetric EV generator-launcher; emission EV generator of FIG. 55;
FIG. 26 is a side elevation in partial section of a cylin FIG. 57 is a side elevation in partial section of an
drically symmetric EV selector and a guide; X-ray generator utilizing EV's;
FIG. 27 is a top plan view of a planar EV selector; 55 FIG. 58 is an exploded, isometric view of a gated
FIG. 28 is an end elevation of the EV selector of electron source utilizing EV's;
FIG. 27; FIG. 59 is an exploded, isometric view of an RF
FIG. 29 is a top plan view of an EV splitter; source utilizing EV's;
FIG. 30 is an end elevation of the EV splitter of FIG. FIG. 60 is a schematic, pictorial view of an EV;
29; 60 FIG. 61 is a schematic, pictorial view of a chain of
FIG. 31 is a top plan view of another EV splitter; EV’s;
FIG. 32 is an end elevation of the EV splitter of FIG. FIG. 62 is a plan view of a channel source device
31, equipped with a cover; using electron multiplication to generate EV's;
FIG.33 is a top plan view of a variable time delay EV FIG. 63 is an end view of the EV generater illustrated
splitter; 65 in FIG. 62;
FIG. 34 is a fragmentary vertical cross section of a FIG. 64 is a graphic representation of the voltage
portion of the splitter of FIG. 33, taken along line gradient found in the EV generater illustrated in FIG.
34-34 of FIG. 33; 62;
 5,018,180 6
5
FIG. 65 is a plan view, schematically illustrating a FIG. 92 is a circuit diagram including a traveling
circulator device for circulating EV's; wave device and a feedback loop;
FIG. 66 is a cross-sectional view of the circulator FIG. 93 is a circuit diagram in which the outputs of
according to FIG. 65, taken along the section lines multiple traveling wave devices are arranged in paral
66-66 of FIG. 65; lel;
FIG. 67 is a plan view of an EV wiggler device; FIG. 94 is a circuit diagram in which multiple travel
FIG. 68 is a series of force diagrams relating to the ing wave devices are arranged in series, but with their
use of EV's in various guide structures; traveling wave outputs conhected in parallel;
FIG. 69 illustrates, schematically, a pair of EV de FIG.95 is a top plan view of a schematic representa
flection switches; O tion of a traveling wave circuit constructed in the form
FIG. 70 is a schematic illustration of a photo acti of a circulator;
wated storage device for use with EV's; FIG. 96 is a vertical cross section through the closed
FIG.71 is a schematic illustration of a diode activated loop of the traveling wave circulator of FIG.95, show
storage device for use with EV's; ing a planar configuration; and
FIG. 72 is a schematic illustration of a charge acti 15 FIG. 97 is a view similar to FIG. 96, but illustrating
vated storage device for use with EV's; use of a helical conductor in the traveling wave circula
tor.
FIG. 73 illustrates, schematically, a pair of EV
switching devices; DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED
FIG. 74 is a schematic illustration of a storage device 20 EMBODIMENTS
which uses EV's to set the device; 1. Definition and Some EV Properties
FIG. 75 is a schematic illustration of an EV stepping What is referred to herein as an EV is a discrete,
register; contained, bundle of charged particles which are pre
FIG. 76 is a block diagram of an EV operated flat dominantly electrons. While not yet fully understanding
panel display; 25 the configuration of an EV, I believe the containment to
FIG. 77 is an elevated view, in cross-section of an EV be due to electromagnetic fields set up between the
stepping register gate; electrons within the bundle, based upon my many ob
FIG. 78 is a block diagram, schematic view, of a servations of EV behavior. This, of course, is in sharp
section of gates, showing the line of stepping registers contrast to a conventional electron bean in which the
that control the gates; 30 containment of electrons is due either to an external
FIG. 79 illustrates schematically, in block diagram, a electrostatic field or an external magnetic field. As is
layout of the line selector responsible for selecting and well known in the art, electrons, each being negatively
feeding EV's into the appropriate line of stepping regis charged, tend to repel each other.
ters; It should also be appreciated that even though the
FIG.80 is an end view of an LRC guide for use with 35 EV is a contained bundle of electrons, it does prefer to
EV's; communicate with other objects or entities, such as
FIG. 81 is a plan view of the LRC guide illustrated in other EV's, dielectrics and electrodes, for example, as
FIG. 80; contrasted with going off on its own, and tends to come
FIG. 82 is an expanded view, in elevation, of the apart after some period of time if there is nothing with
guide channel used in the LRC guide illustrated in which to communicate.
FIGS. 80 and 81; Primary characteristics of an EV include its rela
FIG. 83 is a plan view, in schematic, of an analogue to tively small size (for example on the order of one mi
digital encoder for use in displays operated by EV's; crometer in lateral dimension, but can be larger or as
FIG. 84 is a plan view of two crossing EV guides; small as 0.1 micrometer), and high, uncompensated
FIG. 85 is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment 45 electron charge (that is, without positive ions, or at least
of FIG. 84, taken along the lines 85-85 of FIG. 84; with an upper limit of one ion per 100,000 electron
FIG. 86 is a top plan view, partly schematic, of a charges), typically on the order of 101 electron
planar traveling wave circuit including a driver genera charges. The minimum charge observed for a one mi
tor for providing EV's for use in the traveling wave crometer EV is 108 electron charges. The velocity at
device, and a triggering source used in operating the 50 tained by an EV under applied fields (on the order of
driver generator; one tenth the speed of light) indicates that the EV
FIG. 87 is a vertical cross section taken along line charge-to-mass ratio is similar to that of an electron, and
87-87 of FIG. 86 and further showing the use of a deflection of EV's by fields of known polarity shows
counterelectrode and the positioning of the serpentine that EV's respond as electrons, that is, as negatively
conductor; 55 charged entities.
FIG. 88 is a view similar to FIG. 87, but illustrating As best as can be determined at present, the shape of
the positioning of a serpentine conductor above the EV an EV is most likely generally spherical, but may be
channel; toric, and could have fine structure. As schematically
FIG. 89 is a top plan view of a bank of planar travel illustrated in FIG. 60, an EV is illustrated as having a
ing wave circuits, arranged to be sequentially triggered central sphere 800 of contained electrons, surrounded
by the same EV; by an electromagnetic field 801. Coupling between
FIG. 90 is a perspective view of a stack of planar EV's produces quasi stable structures. However, lone
traveling wave circuits, with the circuits in each hori EV's are rarely observed EV's exhibit a tendency to
zontal layer, or bank, arranged to be sequentially trig link up like beads in a chain, for example, as schemati
gered by the same EV; 65 cally illustrated in FIG. 61, wherein the EV beads in the
FIG. 91 is an enlarged, fragmentary view of a stack of chain may be somewhat free to rotate or twist about
planar traveling wave circuits, similar to FIG. 90, but each other under the influence of external forces or
wherein each of the circuits is individually triggered; internal forces. The chains, which are closed, may be
 5,018, 180
7 8
observed to form ring-like structures as large as 20 selection of the atmosphere in which the components
micrometers in diameter, and multiple chains may also are operated. Terminals or the like, and gas transmission
unite and mutually align in relatively orderly fashion. In lines may be utilized to communicate electrical signals
the chain 810 of FIG. 61, the ten EV's 812, 814, 816, and selected gas at desired pressure through the enclo
818, 820, 822, 824, 826,828 and 830 are shown generally sure walls.
in a circular pattern. Spacing of EV beads in a chain is The scale indication of 10 mm included in FIG. 1 is a
normally approximately equal to the diameter of the typical dimension for EV generating components. Gen
individual beads. Spacing of one chain ring from an erally, when EV's are generated and manipulated in
other is on the order of one ring diameter. A one mi small numbers, they can be made and guided by small
crometer wide ring of ten EV beads, which is the typi O structures. Even when large structures are used, an EV
cal number of beads in a chain, may include 102 elec seeks the smallest details of the gross structures and is
tron charges. Individual EV beads may be observed guided by them and interacts most actively with them,
within a chain ring. An EV entity, which is in the nature leaving the larger details unattended. To a first approxi
of a non-neutral electron plasma, is most strongly mation, generation and manipulation of individual EV
bound, with the binding force between EV beads in a 15 beads may be accomplished with structures having
chain being weaker, and finally the binding between overall dimensions of as little as ten micrometers.
chains of beads being the weakest. However, all of the Generally, very stable materials are desired for use in
binding energies appear to be greater than chemical the construction of structures to generate, manipulate
binding energy of materials. Additional EV properties and exploit EV's, including refractory metals and di
are discussed hereinafter. electrics chosen to approach as closely as possible the
2. Generators binding energy of an EV, so as to preserve the life of the
An EV may be generated at the end of an electrode structures. Some dielectric materials, such as low melt
that has a sufficiently large negative voltage applied to ing point plastic, are not as preferable as other materials,
it. FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate an EV generator, shown for example, such as ceramic.
generally at 10, including a cathode 12 generally in the 25 With any type of EV generator, and whether dc or a
form of an elongate rod having a neck portion 12a end pulse signal is applied to the cathode, it is necessary to
ing in a point and directed generally downwardly complete the current flow path around a loop by using
toward an anode plate 14 separated from the cathode by an electrode of some type to collect the EV (except in
an intervening dielectric plate 16. As indicated in the the case of "electrodeless' sources as discussed herein
drawing, the anode, or collector electrode, 14 is main 30 after).
tained at a relatively positive voltage value, which may Another form of EV generator is shown generally at
be ground, and a negative pulse on the order of 10 kV is 20 in FIG. 3, and includes a cylindrically symmetric
applied to the cathode 12 to generate an intense electric cathode 22 having a conical end facing but displaced
field at the point of the cathode. With the resulting field from an anode/collector electrode 24 which is also
emission at the cathode tip. One or more EV's are 35 cylindrically symmetric. An operating circuit includes a
formed, generally in the vicinity of where the point of load resistor 26 connecting the anode 24 to ground,
the cathode approaches or contacts the dielectric at A. while a current limiting input resistor 28 is interposed
The EV's are attracted to the anode 14, and travel
across the surface of the dielectric 16 toward the anode, between the cathode 22 and an input terminal 30. The
generally along a path indicated by the dashed line B, anode 24 is equipped with an output terminal 32 to
for example, as long as the dielectric surface is un which may be connected ancillary equipment. For ex
charged. Propagation of one, or several EV's, along the ample, detection equipment (not shown), such as an
dielectric surface appears to leave the surface locally oscilloscope, may be joined to the system by terminal 32
charged. A subsequent EV will follow an erratic path whereby the impact of EV's on the anode may be noted.
on the surface unless the surface charge is first dis 45 An enclosure, such as within a cylindrical glass tube
persed, as discussed in detail hereinafter. The insulating 34, may be provided whereby the environment in the
dielectric plate 16, which is preferably of a high quality gap between the cathode 22 and the anode 24 may be
dielectric, such as quartz, prevents a direct discharge controlled, and maintained either in vacuum or at a
between the cathode 12 and the anode 14, and provides selected gas pressure. The tubing 34 may be appropri
a surface along which the EV's may travel. 50 ately sealed and fitted with communication lines (not
If desired, a witness plate 18 may be positioned adja shown) to a vacuum pump and/or gas supply to control
cent the anode 14 to intercept the EV's from the cath the environment within the tube.
ode 12. The witness plate 18 may be in the form of a The cathode 22 may be driven by a negative-going
conducting foil which will sustain visible damage upon pulse, or a direct current, of approximately 2 kV relative
impact by an EV. Thus, the witness plate 18 may be 55 to the anode. The length of the negative pulse may be
utilized to detect the generation of EV's as well as to varied from a few nanoseconds to dc without greatly
locate their points of impact at the anode 14. Addition influencing the production of EV's. Under long pulse
ally, an EV propagating across the dielectric surface length conditions, the input resistor 28 must be chosen
will make an optically visible streak on the surface. As to prevent a sustained glow discharge within the glass
discussed in further detail hereinafter, other compo tube. Under high vacuum conditions, or low pressure
nents may be utilized in conjunction with the generator such as 10-3 torr, the discharge is easily quenched and
10 to further manipulate and/or exploit the EV's thus the resistor 28 may be eliminated, but for a gaseous
generated. environment of higher pressure, a value of the resistor
The generator 10 may be located within an appropri must be chosen that is consistent with the gas pressure
ate enclosure (not shown) and thus operated in vacuum 65 used so as to quench the discharge. For operation in
or in a controlled gaseous atmosphere as desired. In both a vacuum and gaseous regime using a pulse length
general, all of the components disclosed herein may be of 0.1 microsecond, for example, a typical resistor value
so positioned within appropriate enclosures to permit of 500 to 1500 ohms can be used.
 5,018, 180 10
In high vacuum operation of the generator 20, the Generally, for a source that can be fired repeatedly to
spacing between the cathode 22 and the anode 24 produce EV's, a migratory conductor is needed on a
should preferably be less than 1 mm for a 2 kV signal conductive substrate that has a field-enhancing shape.
applied to the cathode. For operation in gases at pres The sharpened point of a cathode, such as shown in
sures of a few torr, the distance between the cathode 22 5 FIG. 4 or 5, may become further sharpened by the
and the anode 24 may be increased to over 60 cm pro effect of the metallic coating wetted thereon being
vided a ground plane 36 is used adjacent the glass tubing drawn into a microscopic cone by the applied field.
as shown. The ground plane 36 may extend partly Similarly, the coating material in a tubular cathode,
around the tubing 34, or even circumscribe the tube. such as shown in FIG. 6, is drawn to the circular edge
For particular applications, the glass tube 34 can be 10 due to field effects to provide a particularly sharp edge
replaced by other structures to guide EV's, as discussed including microscopic emitting cones.
hereinafter, and various circuits can be devised to take wetted A wide variety of materials can be used to construct
advantage of various EV properties. cathodes in general. Typically, for room tem
3. Cathodes perature operation of an EV generator, the cathode
The cathodes, such as 12 and 22 discussed hereinbe 15 may be constructed of pointed copper wire coated with
mercury. Alternatively, mercury can be coated onto
fore, may be pointed by any appropriate technique, silver
such as grinding and polishing, and even chemical etch or tin or molybdenum. Similarly, gallium indium alloys
ing, to achieve a sufficiently sharp point to allow the strate metalsalloys
lead
to
can be used to coat a variety of sub
form cathodes. Examples of cathode
concentration of a very high field at the end of the 20 structures for use at high temperatures include alumi
cathode. Under normal conditions, as EV's are gener num coated titanium carbide for operations at 600 C.,
ated at the tip of such a metallic electrode, the electrode and boron oxide glass coated tungsten in operations at
material is dispersed and the cathode point or other approximately 900 C.
configuration is destroyed by the energy dissipated in it, Non-metal conductive coatings may also be used. For
and the voltage required to produce EV's increases. 5 example, coatings of glycerin doped with potassium
However, the cathode may be coupled to a source of iodide or sodium iodide, and nitroglycerin doped with
liquid conductor, and the tip of the electrode regener nitric acid, have been successfully used with a variety of
ated in a very short time. FIG. 4 shows a metallic elec metallic substrates such as copper, nickel, tungsten and
trode 40 that is wetted with a conductive substance 42 molybdenum. The glycerin is nitrated by including
coated onto the cathode whereby the coating material 30 acid, or doped, to impart some conductivity to the or
may undergo surface migration to the pointed tip of the ganic material. However, it is not necessary to dope for
electrode. The migrating material renews the tip of the conductivity if the coating material is kept to a very thin
electrode to maintain a sharp point as EV generation by layer. Polarization of such material is sufficient to allow
the electrode tends to deteriorate the electrode tip. the material to be moved in a field to thus pump the
Surface tension of the coating material 42, its destruc 35 material to a field enhancing tip.
tion at the tip, and the electric field generated at the It will be appreciated that operation of a wetted
cathode combine to propel the migration of the coating source, particularly in a reduced ambient pressure envi
substance toward the tip. ronment, even a vacuum, is accompanied by the wetting
In FIG. 5 an electrode 44 is surrounded by a tube 46 material vaporizing, or yielding gaseous products.
whereby an annular spacing 48 is defined between the 40 Thus, the metal-wetting material forms a vapor. Or
outer surface of the electrode and the inner surface of ganic or inorganic gases may be acquired depending on
the tube. The spacing 48 serves to maintain a reservoir the wetting substance. Field emission is accompanied by
of coating material 50 which is held within the spacing current through the cathode which heats the cathode,
by surface tension, but wets the cathode and migrates to causing the vaporization of the wetting material. Field
the tip of the cathode in forming a coating 52 thereon to 45 emitted electrons impact and ionize the vapor particles.
maintain an appropriately sharpened cathode point. The The resulting positive ion cloud further enhances field
reservoir tube 46 is preferably a non-conductor, such as emission to produce an explosive-like runaway process
aluminum oxide ceramic, to prevent unwanted electron resulting in a high, local electron density.
emission from the tube as well as unwanted migration of Variations of wetted cathodes may enhance migra
the wetting material along the tube. Otherwise, a con 50 tion of wetting material, return evaporated material to
ductor tube may be used as long as it is not too close to the source, keep the field producing structure sharp
the cathode tip, whereupon the tube may emit elec and/or help reduce ionization time to allow high pull
trons. The coating material 50 may, in general, be any sing frequencies to produce EV's. To take advantage of
metallic liquid such as mercury, which may appropri the regeneration provided by wetting cathodes, the
ately migrate over an electrode 44 constructed of cop 55 pulse rate of the signal applied to the cathode to gener
per, for example. ate EV's must be low enough to allow migration of the
The cathodes 40 and 44 of FIGS. 4 and 5, respec coating material to restore the point or line between
tively, are designed for EV emission from a specific pulses. However, for extended, or line, sources, such as
point. In FIG. 6 a tubular cathode 54 features a coni the circular cathode 54 of FIG. 6, the pulse rate may be
cally shaped interior at one end forming a sharp, circu 60 raised to much higher values than is practical for use
lar edge, or line, 56 at which EV's are generated. The with point sources since the complete regeneration of
cylindrical portion of the interior of the line cathode 54 the line between pulses by coating migration is not
defines, by means of surface tension, a reservoir of coat necessary. Some portion of the line cathode is generally
ing material 58 which wets and migrates along the coni left sharp for subsequent EV production after produc
cal interior surface of the cathode toward the emitting 65 tion of EV's elsewhere along the line.
edge 56. Thus, the migrating material 58 renews the FIG. 7 shows an EV generator 60 including a ce
circular edge 56 to keep it appropriately sharp for EV ramic base 62 having a planar, or surface, cathode 64
generation. positioned along one surface of the base, and a planar
 5,018,180
11 12
anode, or counterelectrode, 66 positioned along another and a frustoconical interior surface of smaller angle of
surface of the base generally opposite to the position of taper to form an aperture 80 defined by a relatively
the cathode. The cathode 64, which is effectively an sharp circular end of the tubular member. When a di
other form of extended or line source, may be coated electric is used for the tunnel 76, a counterelectrode 82
with a metallic hydride, such as zirconium hydride or is formed on the exterior of the tunnel and maintained at
titanium hydride, to produce EV's. Such a cathode a positive potential relative to the cathode 72, while the
continues effective provided hydrogen is recharged anode 74 is positive relative to the counterelectrode.
into the hydride. This can be done by operating the Typically, the voltage values may be in the range of 4
generator, or source, in a hydrogen atmosphere so that kv, 2 kV and zero on the extractor anode 74, the coun
the cathode is operating in the thyratron mode, which is 10 terelectrode 82 and the cathode 72, respectively. The
a known hydride regeneration technique. However, electrode 82 not only provides the relative positive
since there is no flow of wetting material onto the cath potential for the formation of the EV's but acts as a
ode base material, after a period of use the coating mate counterelectrode for propagating the EV's through the
rial disperses and the source fails to fire. Consequently, nozzle aperture 80, while the displaced anode 74 repre
in general, the surface source 64 has a shorter effective 15 sents a load, for example, and may be replaced by any
life than cathodes on which migratory material is depos other type of exploiting load. Other materials, such as
ited, such as those shown in FIGS. 4-6. Additional semiconductors, may be used to form the tunnel 76 with
details of the construction and operation of a surface appropriate electrical isolation from the cathode 72. In
generator such as illustrated in FIG. 7 are provided such cases, the tunnel material itself can serve as a coun
hereinafter. 20 terelectrode.
4. Separators Since an EV induces an image charge in a dielectric
In general, the production of EV's is accompanied by separator 76, the EV tends to be attracted to the dielec
the formation of a plasma discharge, including ions and tric surface. However, the various contaminants of the
disorganized electrons, generally where the EV's are formation discharge, including electrons and ions, may
produced at the cathode, with the plasma charge den 25 be repelled by the tunnel separator 76, at the same time
sity being at least 106 electron charges per cubic mi the EV's are attracted to the tunnel. Thus, the EV's
crometer, and typically 108 charges per cubic microme may emerge through the aperture 80 free of the dis
ter. In the case of a relatively short distance between charge contaminants, which are retained within the
cathode and anode of a source, the high plasma density separator 76. The cross section of the aperture 80 must
accompanying the formation of the EV's is usually 30 be such as to allow emergence of EV's while at the
produced in the form of a local spark. As the distance same time providing a sufficiently narrow channel to
between the cathode and the anode is increased, EV retain the discharge contaminants and prevent their
production and transmission is also accompanied by the passage through the aperture,
formation of streamers, that is, excited ions in a gaseous The construction of the generator 70 with the tubular
mode along the path of an EV which yield light upon 35 separator 76 having a small aperture 80 is relatively
electron transition. As noted hereinbefore, an EV itself convenient for use with various environments between
comprises an extremely high total charge density. Typi the cathode 72 and the anode 74. For example, the exit
cally, a chain ring of ten EV beads, with each bead side of the nozzle formed by the separator 76 with the
approximately 1 micrometer in width, may contain 1012 aperture 80 may be subject to vacuum or selected gas
electron charges and, moving at approximately one pressure as desired. The formation side of the nozzle,
tenth the speed of light, may pass a point in 101 sec that is, the interior of the separator 76 in which the
onds, establishing a high current density easily distin cathode 72 is positioned, may be vented to either vac
guishable from ordinary electron current. Generally, in uum or a gaseous region as selected, different from the
the case of a pulsed source, an EV may be expected to exit side environment. Appropriate pumping can be
be formed for each pulse applied to the cathode, in 45 utilized to maintain the desired environments.
addition to the extraneous charge production that may While the separator 76 illustrated and described here
accompany EV production. inabove is shaped like a funnel, I have found that a
The various components of the plasma discharge square box (not shown) having a small aperture, similar
present when EV's are formed are considered as con to 15, aperture 80, for the EV's to exit, works quite well
taminants to the EV, and are preferably stripped away 50 in separating the EV's from the remainder of the electri
from the EV propagation. Such stripping can be accom cal discharge, which as stated before, may include elec
plished by enclosing the EV source in a separator, posi trons, positive and negative ions, neutral particles and
tioning an aperture or small guide groove between the photons.
source and the extractor electrode, or anode. A coun FIG. 9 shows an EV generator, indicated generally at
terelectrode is provided on the enclosure for use in the 55 84, equipped with a separator designed for use in a
formation of the EV's. The discharge contaminants are . planar construction for an EV generator. A dielectric
contained within the separator while the EV's may exit base 86 is fitted with a surface cathode 88. A separator
through the aperture or groove toward an extractor in the form of a dielectric cover 90 extends over and
electrode. beyond the cathode 88, and terminates in a sloped exte
An EV generator shown generally at 70 in FIG. 8, rior surface which, coupled with a sloped interior sur
includes a cylindrically-symmetric and pointed cathode face of smaller angle of slope, provides a relatively
72, which may be mercury wetted copper, for example, sharp edge suspended a short distance 92 above the
and a plate anode 74, and is equipped with a cylindrical surface of the base 86. As illustrated in FIG. 10, the
ly-symmetric separator 76. The separator 76 includes a separator 90 is also pointed in the transverse direction at
generally tubular member, constructed preferably of a 65 the edge toward the spacing 92, and features walls 94
dielectric, for example a ceramic such as aluminum which cooperate with the sloped interior surface to
oxide, that tapers beyond the point of the cathode 72 in define the peripheral limits of the region effectively
a region 78 including a frustoconical exterior surface enclosed between the separator cover and the base 86.
 5,018, 180 14
13
The outer flat surface of the cover 90 is partially coated positioned on the opposite side of the dielectric mate
with a counterelectrode 96, which extends downwardly rial, the EV propagating on the cathode side of the
approximately two-thirds the length of the sloped outer dielectric material will tend to be attracted to the coun
surface of the cover to provide a relative positive poten terelectrode through the dielectric, and this attraction
tial for the formation and propagation of EV's from the may be used to influence the path of the EV along the
cathode 80. A target anode 98 is positioned on the oppo dielectric as discussed more fully hereinafter, particu
site side of the ceramic base 86 to collect propagated larly in the case of RC (resistance/capacitance) guides
EV's, and may be replaced by some other load used in for EV's.
manipulating and/or exploiting the generated EV's. If an EV is directed toward a dielectric structure,
The separator 90 functions essentially like the separa 10 backed by a counterelectrode or anode at relative posi
tor 76 of FIG. 8 in that the EV's generated by the cath tive potential, the EV may move on the surface of the
ode 88 in FIG. 9 are attracted forward by the counter dielectric in an apparent random fashion. However, the
electrode 96 of the cover 90 toward the opening 92, path of the EV is determined by local electrical effects,
while extraneous discharge contaminants are retained such as the dielectric polarizability, surface charge,
within the cover 96. Alternatively, the cathode 88 may 15 surface topography, thickness of the dielectric and the
be set in a groove (not shown) extending beyond the initial potential of the backing electrode along with its
back of the cover 90, and the cover set down on the conductivity. The major mechanism that affects the
base 86. A small groove may be provided on the under movement of EV's on dielectric surfaces is the polariz
side of the cover, or on the base, in the area 92 to allow ability of the dielectric producing an image force that
passage of EV's out of the cover enclosure. The groove 20 attracts the EV to the dielectric, but doesn't move the
of the cathode 88 may continue through the area 92 to EV forward. Even in the absence of a counterelectrode
allow exit of the EV's from under the cover 90. Addi at an appropriate potential, the induced image charge
tionally, the counterelectrode 96 may be deleted if the tends to attract an EV to the dielectric surface. The EV
anode 98 extends to the left, as seen in FIG. 9, to under cannot go into the dielectric. Consequently, an EV will
lie the area 92. 25 tend to move across the surface of a dielectric and,
The base 86 and the separator cover 90 may be con when an edge or corner of 5 the dielectric material is
structed from ceramic materials such as aluminum ox reached, the EV will, in general, go around that corner.
ide, and the counterelectrode 96 and the anode 98 may As noted hereinbefore, EV's tend to follow fine struc
be formed from a conductive layer of silver fired onto tural details, and this is evident from the guiding effect
the ceramic substrate, for example. The cathode 88 may 30 caused by surface scratches and imperfections. Gener
be formed of silver fired onto the dielectric, and wetted ally, any intersection of two dielectric surfaces or planes
with mercury, for example. having an angle of intersection less than 180 will tend
Other coating processes for constructing conductor to guide the EV along the line of intersection.
patterns, such as thermal evaporation or sputtering, FIGS. 11 and 12 illustrate an EV guide component
may be used to form the counterellectrodes of the two 35 shown generally at 100, including a dielectric base
separators 76 and 90 shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, respec member 102 featuring a smooth groove 104 providing
tively. The openings provided by the separators must be an enhanced guide effect. A counterelectrode plate 106
sufficiently small to permit emergence of the EV's covers most of the opposite surface of the base 102 from
while stripping away the discharge contaminants. For the groove 104, and may be maintained at relative posi
example, the aperture 80 of the separator 76 in FIG. 8 40 tive potential with respect to the emitting cathode,
may be approximately 0.05 mm in diameter for the which is generally directed toward one end of the
generator operating at 2 kV, and with a circular lip groove. The guide component 100 may be utilized, for
thickness of approximately 0.0025 cm. The lip and example, in conjunction with an Evgenerator as illus
opening sizes provided by the cover separator 90 of trated in FIGS. 1 and 2, and a separator such as shown
FIG.9 may be comparable. In either case, smaller open 45 in FIGS. 9 and 10. However, such a guide member 100
ings can tolerate smaller voltages and still filter contam may be utilized with virtually any EV source and other
inants effectively. Generally, the exact cross-sectional components as well. An optional top cover 108, of di
shape of the separator is not of primary importance for electric material as well, is illustrated in FIG. 11 for
the filtering function. placing over the groove 104, in contact with the base
5. RC Guides 50 102.
In general, an anode cooperates with a cathode in the The width and depth of the groove 104 need only be
application of appropriate electrical potential to gener a few micrometers for guiding small numbers of EV's.
ate EV's, and may serve as the target or load of the However, as the power to be handled increases and the
generator, and actually be impacted by EV's. In gen number of EV's increases, crowding may become a
eral, a counterelectrode is not impacted by EV's, but is 55 problem and it is necessary to increase the size of the
used in the manipulation and control of EV's, and may groove. The cross-sectional shape of the groove 104 is
be used in the generation of EV's. For example, the not of primary importance in its ability to guide EV's.
counterelectrodes 82 and 96 of FIGS. 8 and 9, respec With EV's generated by a generator such as shown
tively, contribute to drawing the EV's forward away either in FIGS. 1 and 2 or in FIG. 3, and coupled to a
from the region of EV generation at the respective 60 guiding component by a separator such as illustrated in
cathodes, but the EV's continue on to possibly strike the FIGS. 8 or 9 and 10, and with the guiding component,
anodes 74 and 98, respectively, although both counter such as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, comprising a fused
electrodes 82 and 96 also provide the EV formation silica or aluminum oxide dielectric base with an overall .
voltage. As discussed more fully hereinafter, an EV thickness of 0.0254 cm and having a groove 104 of 0.05
may move along or close to the surface of a dielectric 65 mm in depth and 0.05 mm in width, the guiding action
material placed in the path of propagation of the EV. If is demonstrable.
a ground plane, or counterelectrode, at an appropriate FIGS. 13 and 14 show a variation of a planar guide
positive potential, relative to the generating cathode, is component, indicated generally at 110 and including a
 5,018,180 16
15
dielectric base 112 with a dielectric tile 114 positioned 6. Gaseous Guides
on and appropriately bonded to the base. The intersec Any of the guide structures illustrated in FIGS. 11-16
tion of the surface of the base 112 with the surface of the may be utilized either in vacuum or in a selected gase
tile meeting the base at a 90° angle of intersection (that ous environment. However, the use of gas at low pres
is, one half of a groove such as 104 in FIGS. 11 and 12) sures in guide members can produce another beneficial
would provide a 90' "V" along which EV's could prop effect in the manner of guiding EV's formed into a
agate. The guiding effect, however, is enhanced by a chain of beads, for example.
beveled edge as shown, set at approximately 45, along In some instances, EV's formed from high powered
the tile surface intersecting the base to form a groove sources may be composed of beads in a chain configura
indicated generally at 116. A counterelectrode plate 118 10 tion. Such a chain group may not propagate well on a
is positioned along the opposite surface of the base 112 particular solid guide surface due to the very tight cou
from the tile 114. A collection of tiles such as 114, com pling of the beads in the chain and the disruption that
plete with beveled edges to form grooves such as 116, surface irregularities caused in the propagation of the
may be positioned along the base 112 in a mosaic to configuration. In a low pressure gas atmosphere, typi
define an extended guide path. The guide component 5 cally in the range starting at about 103 torr and extend
110 may be utilized with virtually any other compo ing through 10-2 torr, the EV chain is lifted a relatively
nents used to generate, manipulate and/or exploit EV's. short distance from the dielectric surface and no longer
The guiding action on an EV may be enhanced by use interacts in a disruptive fashion with the surface, with
of a tubular dielectric guide so that the EV may move the result that transmission efficiency is increased.
along the interior of the tube. FIG. 15 illustrates a tubu 20 Then, in general, for a given applied voltage, EV's can
lar dielectric guide member 120 having an interior, be formed with greater separation between cathode and
smooth passage of circular cross section 122 and coated generating anode, and can traverse greater distances
on the outside with a counterelectrode 124. The cross between electrodes. Evidence from witness plates ap
sectional area of the interior channel 122 should be pears to indicate that, moving relatively free of a solid
slightly larger than the EV bead or bead chain to be 25 surface, a bead chain tends to unravel and propagate
guided thereby for best propagation properties. generally as a circular ring, lying in a plane perpendicu
The glass tube 34 with the ground plane 36 encircling lar to the direction of propagation. In general, as the gas
the tube, shown with the generator 20 in FIG. 3, is a pressure is increased, the EV may be lifted further from
guide of the type shown in FIG. 15. For different appli the solid surface. For gas pressures above a few torr,
cations, the glass tube 34 in FIG.3 may be replaced by 30 EV's in general move off of the solid surface entirely,
a guide of another type. and the flat solid surface no longer functions as a guide.
FIG. 16 illustrates a guide member constructed gen However, a guiding effect may still be realized with
erally as the reverse of that of FIG. 14, namely, a dielec such higher gas pressure for EV's moving along the
tric tubular member 126 having an interior channel 128 interior of a closed guide, such as that illustrated in
coated with an interior counterelectrode 130, and pro 35 FIG. 15.
viding the exterior, generally cylindrical surface 132 as Although a wide variety of gases appear to be useful
a guide surface in conjunction with the dielectric struc to produce the lifting effect on EV's and EV configura
ture itself and the counterellectrode 130. In this instance, tions, the high atomic number gases such as xenon and
an EV may move along the exterior surface 132, at mercury perform particularly well. The enhanced guid
tracted to the guide member by the image charge gener ing action on such EV configurations and single EV's
ated due to the presence of the EV, and also by the works well on the inside of dielectric guide enclosures
effect of the counterelectrode 130 maintained at a rela such as those illustrated in FIGS. 11-15, and also works
tive positive potential. well on single
In general, the dielectric guides of FIGS. 11-16, as FIGS. 17 and 18 illustrate a guide device constructed
well as other dielectric components, can be appropri 45 to utilize a "cushion' of gas to maintain EV's lifted from
ately doped for limited conductivity to limit or control the guiding surfaces while yet providing a groove, or
stray charge, as discussed more fully hereinafter. An trough-like guiding structure. The "gas' guide, shown
EV moving within the guide structure of an RC guide generally at 136, includes a trough formed from a di
device provides a temporary charge on the guide as electric block 138, which may, for example, be in the
noted hereinbefore, and another EV will not enter the 50 form of a glaze coated, porous ceramic. The dielectric
immediate high charge region of the guide due to the block 38 features a counterelectrode 140 on the bottom
first EV, but can follow after the charge on the dielec of the block, and further has coatings of resistor mate
tric dissipates after passage of the first EV. rial 142, described hereinafter in the section entitled
If the groove, or tunnel, used as a guide through or "Surface Charge Suppression," along the interior lower
across a dielectric material is too narrow in cross sec 55 portions of the trough, or groove, to resist movement of
tion compared to the size of an EV, the EV passing EV's along the so-coated surface out of the trough
along the guide may effectively cut into the guide mate provided by the block 138. The guide component 136 is
rial to widen the path. Once a channel has been bored connected to a gas communicating line 144 by means of
out by an EV in this manner, no further damage is done a fitting 146, and which features an internal passage 148
to the dielectric material by subsequent EV's propagat through which gas selectively communicated to the
ing along the guide. Typically, a channel of approxi guide may pass to the bottom of the block 138 from a
mately 20 micrometers in lateral dimension will accom source (not shown). The bottom of the dielectric block
modate EV passage without boring by the EV. This is 138 is not glazed at the intersection with the fitting
about the lateral dimension of an EV bead chain formed passage 148 so that gas may enter the porous interior of
into a ring that can be produced with a given source. 65 the block. The glaze coating and the resistor material
The guide groove can be made larger or smaller in cross coating 142 are scratched, or cut, along the bottom of
section to match larger or smaller EV's depending on the V-shaped trough to permit gas to emerge from the
the circumstances of their production. interior of the dielectric block 138. The entire arrange
 5,018, 180
17 18
ment is enclosed for selective control of the environ right as viewed in FIG. 19. The path 154 may be a
ment, and a vacuum pump system is applied to the en scratch on the surface of the plate 152 or an actual guide
closure to pump away the gas emerging through the groove in the plate. A counterelectrode (not visible), at
block 138. Thus, gas introduced into the porous block an appropriate potential, may be positioned on the un
138 through the fitting 146 emerges along the bottom of 5 derside of the dielectric material 152 to aid in the propa
the trough, and, in dispersing upwardly throughout the gation of EV's over the dielectric surface. A reflecting
trough, provides a gas pressure gradient. The concen surface 156 is positioned to intersect the EV path along
tration of the gas thus varies from heavy to light going the dielectric plate 152, indicated by a dashed line. The
from the bottom of the trough upwardly. A pointed surface 156 reflects the light incident thereon, appar
cathode 150, such as a mercury-wetted copper wire, O ently according to the laws of optics, with the result
extends downwardly toward the bottom of the trough that the EV path is likewise deflected as indicated. A
at a short distance from the beginning of the resistor second reflecting surface 158 intersects the new, de
coating 142, and may be maintained with the cathode flected light path, and deflects the path to a new direc
terminal point a short distance above the dielectric tion. Consequently, an EV will trace the light path,
material of the trough. 15 indicated by the dashed line, guided by both reflectors.
In operation, a negative pulse signal of about 2 kV (or Each of the optically reflecting devices 156 and 158 is
higher if the cathode tip is not sufficiently sharp) may be preferably a front surface reflector of high dielectric
applied to the cathode 150 while the counterelectrode constant material with good reflection in the ultraviolet
140 is maintained at ground potential, that is, relatively region. The angle of reflection determines the eventual
positive, to generate EV's at the tip of the cathode well 20 EV path in each case. The change in direction of the
within the depth of the trough formed by the dielectric light path effects a change in direction of the streamer,
block 138, where the gas pressure is highest. The EV's and the EV follows the streamer along the path defined
propagate along the length of the trough as selected gas by the light. A gas pressure of several torr can be uti
is introduced into the trough through the communica lized above the dielectric surface where the EV's prop
tion line 144, and the EV's lift off in the gas layer just 25 agate and are appropriately guided. The reflectors 156
above the bottom of the trough, still attracted to the and 158 need only be a fraction of a millimeter on a side.
dielectric block 138 by the image charge, or force, of The optical guide system illustrated in FIG. 19, or
the dielectric material and the potential of the counter any variation thereof, can be utilized with any of the
electrode 140. The wedge-shaped gas pressure gradient possible EV generators and other components. Further,
provided by the trough contains, or "focuses,' the gas 30 optical reflectors such as the reflecting devices 156 and
cushion effect to help keep the EV's within the confines 158 can be utilized with any other component. For
of the trough. However, a sufficient gradient would be example, a guide system using tubular guides such as
provided even if the trough were replaced with a flat shown in FIG. 15 can incorporate optical reflectors at
surface having a similar cut in the glaze coating and the the ends of the tubular guides.
resistor material coating 142 so that, and further in view 35 8. LC Guides
of the image force effect and counterelectrode poten In general, as an EV approaches any circuit element,
tial, EV's would be guided along the dielectric block, the potential upon that element is depressed. The de
just generally above the cuts in the coatings. Further, pressed potential makes the element less attractive to
from the foregoing discussions concerning the effect of the EV so that, if there is a more attractive direction for
low gas pressure on EV propagation over dielectric 40 the EV, a steering action is available. Inductive ele
surfaces, it will be appreciated that EV's will lift over ments are particularly susceptible to the change in po
such a guide surface with no gradient present in the gas tential in the presence of an EV, and this effect may be
pressure. utilized in providing an LC (inductance/capacitance)
7. Optical Guides guide for EV's.
An EV moving through a purely, low pressure, gase 45 FIG. 20 shows an exploded view of a three-stage
ous phase where no RC guiding structures are present, quadrupole EV structure, indicated generally at 160
is accompanied by the formation of a visible streamer. A and including three guide elements 162 mutually sepa
narrow beam of light appears to precede the streamer, rated by two spacers 164. Each of the guide elements
and may be due to ionization of the gas by the streamer. 162 includes an outer frame and four pole elements
In any event, the EV follows the path defined by the 50 162a, 162b, 162c and 162d extending toward the center
streamer, and the streamer appears to follow the propa of the frame, but ending short thereof to provide a
gation of the light. Such an effect also occurs, for exam central passage area. EV's, or EV chains, enter the
ple, when EV's move over a guide surface in a gaseous array of guide elements from one end of the array, as
environment, such as an environment of xenon gas. indicated by arrow C, generally in a direction normal to
When an EV is propagated on or along the surface, it 55 the plane of orientation of each of the guide elements.
travels in a straight line if the surface is very clean. As illustrated, the four poles 162a-d are arranged in
(Surface charge effects dissipate after an EV is propa mutually orthogonal pairs of opposing poles. There is
gated in a gas environment.) The forward-looking light sufficient inductance in each of the poles to allow a
from the streamer defines a straight path followed by potential depression therein as the EV approaches. The
the streamer and therefore, the EV. If this light path is 60 closer an EV passes to a given pole, the greater the
deflected by objects on the surface, the streamer will potential depression. Thus, for example, an EV ap
deflect, and the EV will follow the new path. Only a proaching closer to the lower pole 162athan to the
small disturbance is needed to start the change in path. upper pole 162c causes a greater potential depression in
Once the path is described, it will remain for future use the lower pole than in the opposite, upper pole. The
as long as the streamer persists. 65 result is that the EV is attracted more to the farther pole
FIG. 19 illustrates an optical guide for use in a gase 162c than to the nearer pole 162a. Consequently, a net
ous environment. A dielectric plate 152 has a path 154 force is applied to the EV causing it to move upwardly,
schematically noted thereon, proceeding from left to tending to balance the potential depressions in the two
 5,018,180
19 20
opposed poles 162a and 162c. A similar result occurs in quency is determined primarily by the velocity of the
the opposed poles to the sides, 162b and 162d, if the EV EV and the distance between the EV and the steering,
moves closer to one of these poles than the other. Thus, or pole, elements 162a-d. Since the diameter of the
a net restorative force urges the EV toward the center guide 160 is related to the coupling coefficient, there is
of the distance between the two opposed pole faces in an interrelationship between the diameter of the guide
either the horizontal or vertical directions. Any over and the spacing of the elements 162a-d. In this type of
shoot by the EV from the center portion in either direc guide, the quarter wave elements 162a-d can be oper
tion again unbalances the potential depressions and ated at dc or a fixed potential without charging effects.
causes a restorative force tending to center the EV While an LC guide can, in general, be made as large or
between the poles. It will be appreciated that the net 10 small as necessary to accommodate and couple to the
restorative force will also be generated if the EV strays particular size EV's to be guided, the velocity range for
away from the center of the passage between the pole propagation of EV's to be guided by a given LC guide
faces in a direction other than horizontal or vertical, is not arbitrarily wide.
causing unbalanced potential depressions among the It will be appreciated that the larger the number of
four poles so that such restorative force will always 15 EV's in a chain to be guided, for example, the greater
have vertical and horizontal components determined by will be the power level to be accommodated by the
the imbalance of potential between the opposed quad guiding device. Generally, an EV requiring an RC
rupoles in each of the two pairs. guide transverse cross section of 20 micrometers would
Such restorative force tending to center the EV in its require an LC guide slightly larger. The spacing be
passage through a given guide element 162 may thus be 20 tween the guidance electrodes, or poles, such as 162a-d
provided with each guide element. With an array of of FIG. 20, would also be in the vicinity of 20 microme
such quadrupole guide elements 162, restorative forces ters. Such sized elements cannot be expected to handle
will thus be provided throughout the length of the array very high power. Although multiple, parallel units can
with the result that the quadrupole element array acts as be utilized to guide a flux of EV's, it may be more eco
an EV guide, tending to maintain the path of the EV 25 nomical of material use and processing to scale up the
centered between opposed quadrupole faces. The spac EV structure to fit a larger guide. Such scaling is pri
ers 164 merely provide a mechanism for maintaining the marily a function of the EV generator or the charge
quadrupoles of adjacent guidance elements 162 sepa combining circuits following the generators when mul
rated from each other. The entire array of guide ele tiple generators are used.
ments 162 and spacers 164 may be constructed as a 30 The type of LC guide illustrated in FIG. 20 may be
laminar device, with guidance elements in contact with provided in many geometric and electric variations.
adjacent spacers, for example. Further, it will be appre However, that type of structure is preferred for rela
ciated that the LC guide of FIG. 20 may be extended tively large sizes, and construction by lamination tech
any length as applicable with additional guide elements niques. Different construction techniques are applicable
162 and spacers 164. 35 to smaller structures and particularly to those amenable
An LC guide, such as that shown in FIG. 20, may be to film processes. An exploded view of an LC guide
made in a variety of shapes, and utilizing different num made by film construction is illustrated generally at 170
bers of poles. In practice, the poles as illustrated in FIG. in FIG. 21.
20 resemble delay lines along the axis of a pair of op The planar type LC EV guide 170 includes three
posed poles. After an EV passes a set of poles, there will guide layers comprising an upper guide 172 and a lower
be a rebound of the potential therein, depending upon guide 174, and an intermediate guide system 176 inter
the time constant of the LC circuit. Eventually, the posed between the upper and lower guides. The upper
oscillations in the potential will subside. The timing guide 172 comprises a pair of elongate members 178
function of the guidance elements must be chosen to joined by cross members 180 in a ladder-like construc
accommodate the passage of subsequent EV's, for ex 45 tion. Similarly, the lower guide includes longitudinally
ample. Further, it will be appreciated that the LC guide extending members 182 joined by cross members 184.
of FIG. 20 operates without the need of producing The intermediate guide system 176 includes two elon
specific image-like forces, as in the case of a dielectric of gate members 186 with each such member having ex
an RC guide, for correcting the position of an EV as it tending therefrom an array of stubs, or pole pieces, 188.
passes therethrough, although the LC guide mechanism 50 With the three guide members 172-176 joined to
can be construed as generating image forces on a gross gether in laminar construction, the upper and lower
scale. Indeed, the guidance elements 162 and the spacers cross members 180 and 184, respectively, cooperate
164 are conductors rather than dielectrics. with the intermediate system pole pieces 188 to provide
The coupling between the moving EV and the guid a tunnel-like passageway through the array of cross
ance structure 160 dictates limits in the size of the struc 55 members and pole pieces. In such construction, the
ture for a given EV size, that is, EV charge. If the lateral confinement of the EV propagation path is ob
guidance structure 160 is too large in transverse cross tained by the conductive pole pieces 188 resembling
section, for example, the structure will not respond quarter wavelength lines. The vertical confinement, as
adequately to control the EV; a too small structure will illustrated, is accomplished by the cross members 180
not allow adequate turning time and space for the EV and 184, each operating as a shorted one-half wave
path to be adjusted. Whether the guidance structure 160 length line. The guide structure 170 effectively operates
is too small or too large, its coupling with an EV will as a form of slotted wave guide or delay structure.
result in an unstable mode of propagation for the EV Since the guide structure 170 is very active electri
and destruction of the EV and damage to the guide cally and can be expected to radiate strongly, the struc
structure. A factor that may be utilized in the design of 65 ture may be enclosed with conductive planes on both
an LC guide 160 such as that illustrated in FIG. 20 is to top and bottom to suppress radiation. Conductive radia
consider the poles to be quarter wave structures at the tion shields 190 and 192 are illustrated to be positioned
approach frequency of the EV to be guided. This fre as the top and bottom layers, respectively, of the lami
 5,018,180 22
21
nar construction. Since there is no fundamental need for approximately 0.25 mm and a guide groove 204 with
potential difference between the guide members depth and width approximately 0.1 mm each. The me
172-176, they may be connected together at their edges, tallic coatings for the cathode 206 and counterelectrode
but, of course, can be maintained isolated from each 208 may be of silver paste compound fired onto the
other with spacers if desired. ceramic, for example. Mercury may be wetted onto the
In general, the EV's produced in a burst by most silver cathode by applying the mercury with a rubbing
generators are not highly regulated as to spacing be action. With such dimensions, the
tween the EV's, although in some instances, the spacing operating voltage to produce EV's and propagate
of generated EV's can be affected. However, LC guides them along the guide path 204 is approximately 500
provide some synchronization of EV's passing there 10 volts. Use of thin film processing methods to produce a
through. The mean velocity of EV's or EV chains pass thinner dielectric substrate 202 allows the operating
ing through an LC guide is locked to the frequency of voltage to be lower. With such film techniques, alumi
the guide, and the spacing of the individual EV's or EV num oxide may be utilized for the dielectric and evapo
chains is forced to fall into synchronization with the rated molybdenum for the metallic electrodes 206 and
structural period of the guide. The resulting periodic 15 208, all being deposited on a substrate of aluminum
electric field produced in the guide tends to bunch the oxide. In such case, mercury can still be used for migra
EV train within that field by accelerating the slow EV's tory cathode material since it can be made to wet mo
and retarding the fast EV's. lybdenum by ion bombardment sufficiently for such an
As the initial EV's move into an LC guide, there is a application. Such bombardment may be by direct bom
short time period when the electromagnetic field level 20 bardment of the molybdenum surface. Alternatively,
is too low for strong synchronization. As the level argon ions may be bombarded with mercury in the
builds up, the synchronization becomes more effective. vicinity of the molybdenum surface, thereby cleaning
The "Q", or figure of merit of the guide as a cavity, the molybdenum surface for wetting. A small amount of
determines the rate of build up and decay. Too large a nickel may be evaporated onto the molybdenum surface
Q will cause breakdown of the cavity. There is an in 25 to facilitate the cleaning of the surface by direct or
plied optimum filling factor for an LC guide as a syn
chronizer. With low filling, the synchronization is not indirect mercury ion bombardment, since mercury and
molybdenum do not have high solubility. The combina
effective, and with high filling, there is a danger of tion of molybdenum and mercury is preferred over
breakdown and interference with the guide function.
Better synchronization may be achieved when the 30 silver, or copper, and mercury because silver and cop
per are too soluble in mercury for use in a film circuit
synchronizer is more loosely coupled to the EV's than since they can be rapidly dissolved away.
the LC guides of FIGS. 20 and 21, for example. Such
loose coupling can be accomplished by using a slotted with thethe
Since cathode source 206 is effectively integral
dielectric substrate 202 in the guide groove
cavity providing small slots on one side of the guide. 204, the cathode is appropriately coupled thereto, that
Then, the device would operate at a lower frequency 35
and have a much broader passband. Such a structure is is, transition of an EV from the cathode production
region into and along the guide groove takes place with
disclosed hereinafter as an RF source.
9. Surface Sources minimal energy loss by the EV. Additionally, the cath
FIGS. 22-24 give three views of an EV generator ode 206, wetted by mercury or the like, features a self
comprising a surface source in conjunction with a guide 40 sharpening or regeneration action to maintain appropri
component. In general, guiding EV's on or near sur ately sharp its leading edge, at which EV's are gener
faces requires coupling them from the source, or prior ated. Further, the cathode 206 is an extended, or line,
component, to the surface in question. In the case of a source so that pulse repetition rates to produce EV's
generator utilizing cathodes such as illustrated in FIGS. can be raised te much higher values than in the case of
4-6, for example, it is possible to locate the source a 45 a single point source because the regeneration process
short distance from the propagating surface, and involving migration of liquid metal is not necessary
achieve workable coupling. In the apparatus illustrated between all pulses in the case of an extended source as
in FIGS. 22-24, the source of EV's is integral with the noted hereinabove. It will be appreciated that the ex
guide device along which the EV's are to be propagated tended cathode 206 is identical to the cathode 64, illus
for enhanced coupling. 50 trated in FIG. 7, which is also mounted directly on a
In particular, the generator and guide combination is ceramic base 62. Operation of such extended cathodes
shown generally at 200, and includes a dielectric base relies on the fringing field effects at the edge of the
202 featuring a guide groove 204 and a surface, or pla cathodes that cause a sharpening effect on the mobile
nar, cathode 206 embedded within the guide groove cathode wetting material. Consequently, one or more
toward one end thereof. A surface anode/counterelec 55 relatively sharp structures can always be relied on for
trode 208 is positioned on the opposite side of the di field emission that is responsible for the EV initiation,
electric base 202 from the groove 204 and the cathode and therefore the operating voltage of such a source is
206, and serves to effect generation of the EV's and relatively low.
propagation thereof along the groove. An optional top 10. Surface Charge Suppression
cover 210 is shown in FIG. 24 for positioning against 60 After an EV is generated, it may lose electrons due to
the grooved surface of the base 202, and can be used relatively poor binding of such electrons at the time of
without sealing provided the surfaces are sufficiently formation, or by some other process such as passage of
flat. To avoid collecting charge in the covered guide the EV over a rough surface. In the latter case in partic
channel, the cover 210 is coated with a charge dispers ular, the lost electrons may distribute themselves along
ing material such as doped alumina, as discussed more 65 the surface and produce a retarding field effect on sub
fully below. sequent EV's passing in the vicinity of the charged
In practice, the dielectric base 202 may be an alumi surface area. Several techniques are available for re
num oxide ceramic plate or substrate with a thickness of moving this resulting surface charge.
 5,018,180 24
23
The dielectric substrate, or base, employed in an EV optically, and are cleared by the electric field during
generator or RC guide, for example, experiencing the operation.
surface charge buildup may be rendered sufficiently In general, the geometry of the dielectric substrate
conductive so that the surface charge is conducted may influence the effectiveness of making the substrate
through the substrate to the anode or counterelectrode. conductive to suppress surface charge, as in the cases of
The resistivity of the base must be low enough to dis photoconductivity and bombardment induced conduc
charge the collected surface charge before the passage tivity techniques, for example.
of the next EV following the one that charged the sur ll. Launchers f
face. However, the resistivity of the surface cannot be In some applications or structures, it is necessary or
arbitrarily low because the subsequent EV would be 10 desirable to propagate an EV across a gap in vacuum or
destroyed by excessive conductivity to the anode or a gaseous environment. For example, an EV may be
counterelectrode. launched across a gap separating a cathode and an
To achieve the desired degree of bulk conductivity of anode or guide structure. The launching of an EV
the substrate, the dielectric material, such as aluminum 15 across a gap may be accomplished by applying an ap
oxide, can be coated with any of the resistant materials propriate voltage to attract the EV from one region to
commonly used for thick film resistor fabrication, pro the other. However, such an applied voltage can repre
vided the resistance does not fall much below the range sent a loss in power for the system or the perhaps un
of 200 ohms per square. Such a resistive coating is usu wanted energy gain for the EV. The required applied
ally composed of a glass frit having a metallic compo voltage may be reduced to minimize the system energy
nent included therein, and is applied to the surface by loss by inducing the EV to leave the cathode region and
silk screening and subsequent firing at an elevated tem enter into a counterelectrode region, for example, with
perature. However, where intense EV activity occurs out excessive energy gain. This may be accomplished
with the utilization of high fields and possible high by propagating the EV across a region where the field
thermal gradients, such glassy materials tend to break 25 is high at the desired applied voltage so that the field
down and are therefore unsatisfactory. In such cases in strips the EV from the surface along which it was trav
particular, a film of aluminum oxide doped with chro eling and to which it was attached.
mium, tungsten or molybdenum, for example, may be FIG. 25 illustrates a launcher construction, shown
added to the dielectric component to provide a suffi generally at 216, designed to launch EV's across a gap
ciently conductive material, thereby achieving the de 30 between an EV generator 218 and an EV guide, for
sired level of bulk conductivity of the dielectric. The example 220. The generator 218 includes a dielectric
effectiveness of this procedure is enhanced by decreas base which is generally tubular, but closes at its forward
ing the thickness of the substrate. end in a conical structure terminating in a point 222. A
The photoemission spectrum from a decaying EV is counterelectrode 224 is formed within the dielectric
rich in ultraviolet light and soft X-rays if the distur 35 base by conductor material coating the interior surface
bance of the EV causing the decay is severe. The ab of the base throughout the conical region thereof and
sorption spectrum of the produced photoconductor extending partly along the cylindrical portion of the
should be tailored to match these high energy products. base. A portion of the exterior of the dielectric base is
Since electron scatter and low electron mobility in the coated with conductor material to form a cathode 226.
photoconductor causes the photoconductive process to 40 The cathode 226 extends along the cylindrical portion
be slower than the passage of the EV, the discharging of of the base and onto the conical end of the base, but
the surface charge due to the decaying EV occurs does not extend as far along the base longitudinally as
slightly after the EV has passed a particular location on does the counterelectrode 224. By terminating the cath
the surface, and therefore poses no threat of conducting ode 226 short of the end of the conical tip 222 the lead
the EV to the anode. In addition to the ultraviolet and 45 ing edge of the cathode, at which EV's are formed, is
X-ray emission, part of the electron emission from an maintained relatively close to the anode 224. Also, the
EV near a surface excites fluorescence in the dielectric truncated cathode 226 features a larger EV-producing
material, and the fluorescent light then contributes to area than would be the case with the cathode extending
activating the photoconductive process. to the tip 222 of the base. The fringing field effect
Another way of effecting surface charge suppression 50 around the leading edge of the cathode 226 close to the
through photoconductivity is by utilizing diamond-like anode 224 is used in the production of the EV's. The
carbon for the dielectric component. Such material has counterelectrode extends farther to the left within the
an energy band gap of approximately 3 eV, and thus can cylindrical portion of the base than the cathode coats
be stimulated into photoconduction. Further, such car the cylindrical exterior of the base.
bon material can be easily doped with carbon in gra 55 The tubular guide member 220, which is generally
phitic form to increase the conductivity of the substrate. constructed like the tubular guide illustrated in FIG. 15,
Another technique for dispersing the surface charge is coated on its exterior surface with conductor material
is to utilize bombardment induced conductivity. Such to form a counterelectrode 228 which extends through
conductivity is activated by the high speed electrons out most, but not all, of the length of the guide member.
coming from the EV and penetrating a sufficiently thin The counterelectrode 228 does not extend to the ends of
layer dielectric to bombard the anode, causing conduc the guide member 220 lest the EV's propagate onto the
tivity of the dielectric applied to the anode. The con counterelectrode. The end of the guide member 220
ductivity of the dielectric is effectively increased as the facing the generator 218 features an internal conical
high velocity electron stream is turned into a large surface 230 so that the generator tip 222 may be posi
number of low velocity electrons in the dielectric. The 65 tioned within the conical end of the guide member
dielectric material is appropriately optimized for such while still maintaining a spacing between the two bod
process by being sufficiently thin, with few trap sites. ies. The guide member 220 may also be constructed to
The trap sites may be initially cleared thermally or circumscribe the generator 218, provided the counter
 5,018,180 26
25
electrode 228 is kept back from the region of the cath It will be appreciated that the spacing between the
ode 226. guide member 220 and the generator 218 may be ad
In operation, an appropriate potential difference is justed. In a given application under vacuum or selected
applied between the cathode 226 and the counterelec gaseous conditions, requiring sealed operation, such
trode 224 of the generator 218 to generate one or more 5 movements can be effected by a variety of techniques,
EV's which leave the forward end of the cathode and While a generally cylindrically symmetric launcher
travel toward the tip 222, under the influence of the 218 is illustrated and described herein, it will be appreci
field established by the potential difference. It is in ated that the launcher technique can be applied to EV
tended that the EV's leave the generator 218 and enter generating and manipulating components of any kind.
the interior of the guide member 220. Thereafter, the O For example, the planar generator and guide illustrated
EV's may propagate along the interior of the guide in FIGS. 22-24 may employ the launcher technique to
member 220, under the influence, at least in part, of the overcome a large gap to a subsequent guide member,
field established by the guide member counterelectrode for example, particularly when a low voltage is utilized
228 generally as discussed hereinbefore. The conical to generate the EV's.
geometry of the generator end, and the relative posi 15 In general, EV's may be formed and launched at
tioning of the generator cathode 226 and 35, counter lower voltages if the dimensions of the components are
electrode 224 result in the EV's experiencing a large decreased. For low voltage operation, it is desirable to
field at the generator tip 222 causing the EV's to detach use film coating methods to fabricate the components.
from the base of the generator 218. The EV's are thus For example, to construct a planar launcher, an anode
effectively ejected from the generator tip 222 at the 20 may be formed by lithographic processes and then
coated with films of dielectric material such as alumi
beginning of the guide member 220 and continue along, num oxide or diamondlike carbon. After the deposition
now propagating under the influence of the guide mem of the dielectric material, the cathode material, typi
ber. cally molybdenum, can be applied to the dielectric ma
In practice, the cathode 226 may be appropriately 25 terial, and then the entire cathode may be wetted with
wetted with a liquid metal conductor as discussed here a liquid metal. While a generally cylindrical launcher
inbefore. The guide member counterelectrode 228 may may not be so fabricated using film techniques, the
be operated at the same potential as the generator coun electrodes may be painted on to make such a launcher.
terelectrode 224, but other potentials can be used. The With dimensions of approximately 1 micrometer thick
extraction voltage applied to the guide counterelec 30 ness for the dielectric base of the generator, an EV may
trode 228 is an inherent part of the generation process, be formed and launched at a potential difference be
and without such voltage the generator will not pro tween the cathode and anode of the generator of less
duce EV's effectively. The extraction voltage is nor than 100 volts.
mally ground potential when the cathode 226 is run at Although the preferred embodiments of a launcher
some negative voltage. With a negative-going pulse 35 for EV's have been illustrated and described herein,
applied to the cathode 226 to generate the EV's, the those skilled in the art will realize that launchers for
generator counterelectrode 224 may be operated at EV's may be constructed in various other forms.
ground potential. The mobile wetting metal is drawn to 12. Selectors
a thin ring at the end of the cathode 226 nearest the tip As noted hereinbefore, EV's may be generated as
222. EV's are generated around the cathode region so beads in a chain with multiple chains being produced at
that, at a high pulse rate, there is a steady glow around essentially the same time. It may be desirable, or neces
the cathode end accompanying EV production. sary to isolate EV's of a selected total charge for use in
As an example of the construction of a launcher as a process or a device. A selector action can help limit
illustrated in FIG. 25, the dielectric body of the genera the number of types of EV's available to provide the
tor 218 may be made of aluminum oxide ceramic having 45 desired species. In general, a variety of EV's may be
a thickness of 0.1 millimeter in the region of the conical generated and directed toward an anode or collector
end, that is, at the wetted metal cathode edge, and being around a sharp edge on a dielectric surface. An extrac
somewhat thicker along the cylindrical shank of the tor field detaches selected EV's at the dielectric edge
base for additional mechanical support. The counter and propels them toward a guide component or other
electrode 224 and the cathode 226 may be fired on silver 50 selected region. The extractor voltage as well as a guide
paste coating the dielectric surface as discussed herein voltage may be readily adjusted, in view of the geome
before. Both the interior and the exterior of the conical try of the selector, to extract EV's of a chosen charge
end of the base 218 are finely pointed to increase the size. Typically, approximately five EV chains, each
field at the tip 222 to cause detachment of an EV as it with ten or twelve beads, may be extracted at a time,
approaches that region. The spacing between the gener 55 with the number of chains or EV's scaled according to
ator tip 222 and the nearest inside surface of the guide the geometry of the extracting apparatus.
member 220 may be on the order of 1 millimeter or less. A generally cylindrically symmetric selector is
With the foregoing dimensions, an EV may be formed shown at 236 in FIG. 26, and includes a generator, or
and detached at the generator tip 222 with approxi source, 238 constructed generally in the form of the
mately a 500 volt potential difference applied between 60 separator shown in FIG. 8. A generally tubular dielec
the generator counterelectrode 224 and cathode 226. A tric ceramic base 240 has a conical forward end wherein
gas pressure on the order of 10-2 torr lifts the EV off of the respective angles of taper of the exterior and interior
the dielectric surface of the generator base 218 and conical surfaces cooperate to form a small aperture .
facilitates the transfer and propagation of the EV to the defined by a circular, sharp edge 242. A conductive
guide structure 220, and even allows the cathode pulse 65 coating, such as a fired on silver paste coating, forms a
to be reduced to as low as 200 volts. High molecular counterelectrode band 244 about the exterior base of the
weight gases, such as xenon and mercury, are particu conical end. A wetted metal cathode 246 is positioned
larly good for this function. within the tubular dielectric base 240 with the cathode
 5,018, 180
27 28
conical end within the conical structure of the dielectric tor electrode may momentarily reduce the potential
base and facing the aperture defined by the edge 242. between the cathode and the extractor below the
The cathode 246 may be copper wetted with mercury, threshold required to extract any of the remaining bead
for example, as described hereinbefore. chains or beads in the group at the edge in question and
An extractor 248, in the form of a conducting plate moving toward the source anode. After the initial EV
with a circular aperture 250, is positioned in front of structure is extracted and propagates beyond the extrac
centered on and a short distance from the source circu tor field, a subsequent EV may be extracted from the
lar edge 242. Beyond the extractor 248 is a tubular guide region of the dielectric edge.
252, for example, having a dielectric body with its exter As an example, in the configuration shown in FIG.
nal surface coated, in part, with a conducting surface to 10 26, for an applied negative voltage of 2 kV on the cath
form a counterellectrode 254. ode, an aperture defined by the sharp edge 242 of ap
If the generator 238 is operated to produce EV's proximately 50 micrometers, a cone radius of equivalent
without the application of a voltage on the extractor size, and a spacing from the dielectric aperture to the
248, the EV's move from the region of the cathode tip extractor electrode of approximately 1 millimeter, a
to the anode 244 by traveling through the hole in the 5 positive extraction voltage of approximately 2 kV is
end of the ceramic cone and around the sharp edge 242 needed to detach an EV. The extraction threshold volt
to the outside of the cone and to the anode. When an age is critical. For example, when an EV source of such
appropriate voltage is applied to the extractor, how dimensions is constantly firing and the EV's are being
ever, a selected portion of the EV's at the dielectric captured entirely by the anode on the dielectric cone,
edge 242 are detached from the dielectric and propelled no extraction to the extractor occurs with an extraction
through the extractor opening 250 and to the guide voltage of 1.9kv, but EV's are so extracted at a positive
member 252 through which they are propagated under extraction voltage of 2.0 kV.
the influence of the potential placed on the guide coun While separators are shown in FIGS. 24-26, as asso
terellectrode 254. ciated with EV generators, separators may be incorpo
A planar selector is shown generally at 260 in FIG. 27 25
rated virtually anywhere along a line of EV manipulat
and includes a generally flat dielectric base 262 having ing components. For example, a separator may follow a
an elongate neck 264. A surface source, or generator, guide device, or even another separator. Providing EV
generally of the type shown in FIG. 22, is incorporated separators in sequence, or even in cascade, permits ex
in the selector 260 with a planar cathode 266 residing in traction of EV's of a particular binding energy from
a groove 268. However, rather than being positioned on EV's in a wide range of binding energies.
the opposite side of the dielectric base 260, the anode 13. Splitters
used in the generation of the EV's is in the form of a In general, operations involving close timing or syn
coating 270 on the side of a second groove 272 which
intersects with the first groove 268 at an acute angle to chronization of events can be controlled by two or
form a sharp intersection edge 274. With a potential 35 more output signals derived from a single input signal.
difference applied only across the cathode 266 and the For example, a first event can be divided into a multi
anode 270, EV's formed at the cathode, which may be plicity of subevents. With an EV source that produces a
a wetted metal type, move along the groove 268 to its large number of EV beads or bead chains within a very
intersection with the groove 272, whereupon the EV's short period of time, it is possible to divide such an
turn around the sharp edge 274 and proceed to the event, that is, to divide a burst of EV's, into two or
anode 270. more EV propagation signals. Apparatus for so divid
Two extractor electrodes 276 and 278 are positioned ing EV signals is called a splitter, and is constructed
along the outside surfaces of the neck 264 of the base generally by interrupting a guide component, such as
262, on opposite sides thereof and flanking the guide the RC guide devices illustrated in FIGS. 11-16, with
groove 268. Application of an appropriate voltage to 45 one or more side guide channels intersecting the main
the extractor electrodes 276 and 278 causes selected guide channel. As EV's move along the main guide
EV's negotiating the sharp edge 274 to be detached channel and reach the intersection of the main channel
therefrom and to proceed along the guide groove 268 with a side, or secondary, channel, some of the EV's
and through the region bounded by the extractor elec move into the secondary channel while the remainder
trodes. As shown in FIG. 28, a counterelectrode 280 50 continue along the main channel. In constructing a
underlies a portion of the guide groove 268 along the splitter, care must be taken to ensure that the secondary
neck 264 of the dielectric base to further propel the guide channel intersects the main channel at a position
selected EV's along the guide groove beyond the ex where the EV's actually propagate. For example, if the
tractor electrodes 276 and 278. main channel is relatively large so that EV's may move
As noted hereinbefore, when an EV is traveling 55 along at a variety of locations throughout the transverse
along a surface, it is bound thereto by image forces. The cross section of the main channel, then there can be no
magnitude of the binding force depends to some extent certainty that an EV will encounter the intersection of
upon the geometry of the surface through which the the secondary channel with the main channel suffi
image force is effected When the effective area of the ciently close to the secondary channel entrance to move
surface is reduced, such as the case when an EV is into the secondary channel.
passing about the sharp circular edge 242 of the conical A splitter shown generally at 290 in FIGS. 29 and 30
structure of the generator 238 in FIG. 26, or about the includes a dielectric base 292 with a mosaic tile 294
sharp edge 274 of the planar selector 260 in FIG. 27, bonded to the base. A second tile piece 296 is also
then the image force is reduced, and the EV becomes bonded to the base 292. The tiles 294 and 296 are cut as
more loosely bound and sensitive to being stripped 65 illustrated and bonded to the base 292 appropriately
away by a field provided by means of another electrode separated to form a secondary guide channel 298 be
with a relatively positive voltage applied to it. The high tween the two tiles. A single tile, generally rectangular
negative charge of the EV's moving toward the extrac as viewed from the top in FIG. 29, may be cut into two
 5,018, 180 30
29
pieces to form the channel 298 when the pieces are the right end of the splitter 290 as viewed in FIG. 29
appropriately bonded to the base 292. along the two channels 300 and 298. From there, the
As discussed hereinbefore, a 90' angle between the EV's may be manipulated or exploited by other compo
edge of such a mosaic tile and the base 292 would form rents.
a channel to which EV's would be attracted and along 5 Similarly, EV's or EV bead chains launched into the
which they would be guided. However, providing a 45' left end of the primary channel 314 of the splitter 310 of
bevel forms an acute angle primary channel 300 when FIGS. 31 and 32 move along that channel until some of
the tiles 294 and 296 are bonded to the base 292, in the the EV's or EV bead chains enter the secondary chan
same fashion that such a channel is provided by the nel 316 and are guided around its elbow so that two
guide member 110 illustrated in FIGS. 13 and 14. A 10 streams of EV's or EV bead chains arrive at the right
guide counterelectrode or ground plane 302 for contrib end of the splitter for further manipulation or exploita
uting to the attractive force maintaining the EV's tion.
within the guide channels is positioned on the opposite A single EV moving along the primary channel of
side of the base 292 from the tiles 294 and 296. The either of the splitters 290 and 310 illustrated may be
dielectric tiles 294, 296 and base 292 may be constructed 15 expected to turn into the narrower secondary channel
of any suitable material, such as aluminum oxide. Sini in each case. However, it is noted that a stream of EV's
larly, the counterelectrode 302 may be formed by any or EV bead chains will be split as described, with some
suitable conductor material, such as silver paste. The of the propagation following the main guide channel
potential applied to the counterelectrode 302 is chosen and the remainder following the secondary channel.
according to the application and other potential levels 20 The deflection of only a portion of an EV propagation
used, and may be positive or ground. stream into a secondary channel of a cross section
A second version of a splitter is shown generally at smaller than or equal to that of the primary channel may
310 in FIG. 31, and includes a dielectric base 312 with be due to a crowding effect of multiple EV's or EV
a primary, straight guide channel 314 and a secondary bead chains at the channel intersection, perhaps caused
guide channel 316 branching off of the primary channel 25 by the high concentration of charge of the EV's, that
at an acute angle. The channels 314 and 316 are grooves prevents the total EV group from taking the secondary
of rectangular cross section formed in the base 312. As path. This is a form of self-switching in which one or a
shown in FIG. 32, a counterelectrode 318 is positioned few EV structures pass into the secondary channel at a
on the opposite side of the base 312 from the channels time while others continue along the main path. In any
314 and 316 to promote propagation of the EV's along 30 event, splitters of the type illustrated in FIGS. 29-32 are
the channels, and a flat, dielectric cover 320 is provided effective in producing multiple streams of EV propaga
for optional placement against the top surface of the tion generated as a single stream from a single source.
base to enclose the guide channels. In order to ensure Additionally, the arrivals of the EV's at the output ends
that EV's moving from left to right along the main of the primary and secondary channels are effectively
channel 314, as viewed in FIG. 31, are sufficiently close 35 simultaneous, since the difference in path length along
to the side of the main channel broken by the secondary the primary and secondary channels is insignificant.
channel 316, it is necessary that the primary channel Consequently, multiple EV's generated with a single
cross section not be much larger than the mean size of signal pulse and arriving at the junction of primary and
the EV's that are propagated along that channel, al secondary guide channels, for example, may split up
though each channel has to be large enough to accom 40 with some EV's propagating along each guide channel
modate the largest EV structure to be propagated there to produce EV arrivals, or signals, at two locations. If
through. (The mosaic guide channel with the bevel 300 the guide channel path lengths are identical, the EV's
in FIGS. 29 and 30 will accommodate any size EV may arrive at the end points of the channels simulta
structure because it has an open side). Typically, for an neously, or nearly so.
EV bead chain formed at 2 kV, the primary channel 45 A variable time delay splitter is shown generally at
lateral dimension should be 20 micrometers. The lower 330 in FIGS. 33 and 34 for use in producing a pair of
limit for a channel width guiding a single EV bead is EV propagation signals, generated from a single burst
approximately 1 micrometer. But, where EV bead of EV's but arriving at a pair of locations at specified
chains formed at 2 kV are to be propagated along both times which may be essentially the same or different.
channels of the splitter 310, the width of the secondary 50 The time delay splitter 330 includes a dielectric base 332
channel 316 should be at least 20 micrometers and the to which are bonded three mosaic dielectric tiles 334,
width of the primary channel 314 may range between 20 336 and 338. A pointed cathode 340, such as those illus
micrometers and 30-35 micrometers. trated in FIGS. 1 and 2 or 17, is shown for use in gener
Both splitters 290 and 310 may be utilized with a ating EV's for propagation along a first path 342 ex
variety of other components, and, for example, EV's 55 tending along the intersections of the base 332 with the
may be launched or propagated into the primary guide top edges (as viewed in FIG. 33) of the two tiles 334 and
channels 300 and 314 from any of the sources disclosed 336. The path 342 further extends upwardly, as shown
herein. In the case of the splitter 290 of FIGS. 29 and 30, in FIG. 33, along the intersection of the base 332 with
EV's or EV bead chains move along the apex of the the left edge of the rectangular tile 338, along its upper
channel formation bevel 300 until the intersection with 60 edge and downwardly along its right edge.
the secondary channel 298 is reached. At that point, The first tile 334 is in the form of a trapezoid which
some of the EV's or EV bead chains move into the cooperates with the second tile, 336, which is in the
secondary guide channel 298 and the remainder con form of a triangle, to provide a channel 344 separating
tinue to the right, as viewed in FIG. 29, along the pri these two tiles and intersecting the primary path 342 at
mary channel 300. The secondary channel 298 guides 65 an acute angle to form the initial leg of a secondary
the EV's or EV bead chains having entered that chan guide path 346.
nel around the elbow of that channel as illustrated, so A generally U-shaped dielectric tile 348, having left
that two streams of EV's or EV bead chains arrive at and right legs 350 and 352 for extending about the lower
 5,018,180 32
31
portion of the rectangular tile 338 as illustrated, is mov 360. On the other hand, the secondary path 346 is vari
able, and may be selectively positioned, relative to the able in path length between the intersection of the chan
rectangular tile 338 as indicated by the double-headed nel 344 with the primary path 342 and the second
arrow E. The secondary path 346 continues down launcher 362, for example. This variation in path length
wardly, as viewed in FIG.33, along the 90' intersection is achieved by movement of the U-shaped dielectric
(see FIG. 34) of the base 332 with the left side of the tile member 348 relative to the rectangular tile 338 as indi
338, until the path reaches the tile leg 350. The movable cated by the double-headed arrow E. The farther the
left leg 350 has a 45° beveled lower inner edge 354, as dielectric member 348 is positioned downwardly rela
shown in FIG. 34. Consequently, the secondary path tive to the tile 338, as viewed in FIG. 33, the longer will
346, which follows along the intersection of the base O be the secondary path length 346 (and the shorter will
332 and the left edge of the rectangular tile 338 below be the overlapped portions of the legs 350 and 352 with
the channel 344, is guided then by the intersection of the the respective sides of the tile 338). By selectively posi
base 332 and the beveled edge 354 of the leg 350 as the tioning the dielectric guide member 348 relative to the
EV's prefer the more confined intersection than the 90' tile 338, the length of the path 346 may be selected and,
intersection of the edge of the tile 338 with the base 332. 15 in this way, the time required for EV's to traverse the
Consequently, the EV path 346 leaves the tile 338 to secondary path 346 and arrive at the second launcher
follow the tile leg 350. It will be appreciated that the 362 may be chosen. Consequently, the relative time of
movable tile 348 may be positioned with the leg 350 at arrival at the two launchers 360 and 362 of EV's gener
the outlet of the channel 344 so that the secondary path ated by a single pulse, for example, and following the
346 follows the leg without first following the left side two paths 342 and 346 may be selected by the position
of the tile 338. The secondary path 346 advances to the ing of the dielectric guide member 348.
base of the U-shaped tile 348 and thereafter moves The 10 mm dimension indicated in FIG. 33 shows a
across the tile base to the right leg 352, which intersects typical scale for a variable splitter. It will be appreciated
along its left edge with the base 332 at a 90° angle as that differences in path lengths on the order of a tenth of
illustrated in FIG. 34. However, the lower right edge of 25 a millimeter or less may be readily effected using a
the tile 338 features a 45° bevel 356 as an intersection variable splitter of the size indicated. Any appropriate
with the base 332. Consequently, EV's moving up means may be utilized to move and selectively position
wardly, as shown in FIG. 33, along the intersection of the movable guide member 348, including a mechanical
the tile leg 352 with the base 332, then move along the linkage for example. If necessary, where the adjustment
beveled intersection of the tile 338 with the base, and is made manually, a form of micromanipulator or trans
upwardly away from the end of the movable leg. As lator, such as a lever and/or gear system with appropri
shown in FIG. 34, a counterellectrode 358 underlies the ate mechanical advantage may be utilized to achieve the
base 332 to provide the necessary potential for enhanc desired sensitivity of control.
ing the guiding effects of the paths 342 and 346 and, It will be appreciated that the guide paths 342 and 346
where the splitter 330 includes a cathode 340 for the 35 may be modified as appropriate to any application.
generation of EV's, to provide the potential for such Further, the paths need not extend to launchers 360 and
generation. 362, but may continue on to further guide paths, for
The right edge of the rectangular tile 338, as viewed example, or other components as appropriate.
in FIG. 33, includes two launchers 360 and 362 in the For example, a version of a variable time delay split
form of dielectric extensions ending in sharp edges. ter is shown generally at 370 in FIG. 35. The construc
Thus, EV's moving along the 90' intersection of the tion and operation of the splitter 370 is similar to that of
upper portion of the right edge of the tile 338 with the the splitter 330, and need not be further described in
base 332 are guided by the intersection of the launcher detail, except for the differences therebetween. For
360 with the base. However, the launcher 360 is gener example, the fixed guide path 372 may be the same as
ally triangular in cross section, as shown in FIG. 33, to 45 the fixed guide path 342 in FIG, 33, but the variable
provide a sharp edge at the right end of the launcher. guide path 374 provided by the splitter 370 is adjusted
The EV will go forward onto the flat substrate of the by a movable guide member 376 (as indicated by the
base 332 rather than turning around the sharp corner of double-headed arrow F) which extends farther to the
the launcher 360. This forward movement of the EV is right, as viewed in FIG. 35, and ends in a launcher 378
greatly influenced by the exact shape of the leading 50 which expels the EV's along a line directed toward a
edge of the launcher 360, which must therefore be rela point of intersection, G, with the first guide path 372.
tively sharp and straight to avoid launching EV's at Thus, EV's may be caused to reach the point G from
undesired angles. An external field may be provided by two different directions at the same time, or at selected
electrodes (not shown) placed to the right of the different times, depending on the position of the mov
launcher 360 for further manipulation of the EV's. 55 able guide member 376. Witness plates, or other EV
Similarly, the launcher 362 features a sharp edge detecting devices such as phosphorous screens, 380 and
toward its right end so that EV's moving along the 382 may be positioned to receive the EV's moving
beveled intersection of the lower right edge of the tile along the primary and secondary paths 372 and 374,
338 with the base 332 turn toward the right, as viewed respectively. Additionally, appropriate anodes or coun
in FIG. 33, to move along the perpendicular intersec terelectrodes may be utilized to enhance or further the
tion between the launcher 362 and the base, and then movement of the EV's from the launchers.
out over the base away from the launcher. EV's exiting In general, the secondary channel of a splitter may be
the launcher 362 may be further manipulated by an larger, smaller or equal in transverse dimensions to the
appropriate external field applied with the use of appro main channel. If the secondary channel is much larger
priate electrodes (not shown). 65 in cross section than the primary channel, all EV propa
The primary path 342 is a fixed path, that is, it has a gation may follow the secondary channel. The second
singular path length between the intersection of that ary channel may intersect the main channel at any acute
path and the channel 344, for example, and the launcher angle up to.90. The channels may mutually branch in
 5,018, 180 34
33
various patterns, such as to form a "Y" or a "T", for respectively. The input and output channels 394–398,
example. For such examples, the two branches may be which are shown as mutually parallel but may be set at
equivalent channels. Further, multiple secondary paths virtually any angles relative to each other, are con
may be utilized so that any number of output signals nected by a transition, or deflection, region 400 which
may be constructed from a single input EV signal from 5 has the same depth as the guide channels but which is
a single source, for example. It will be appreciated that generally broadened. A guide counterelectrode 402
splitters may also be constructed in forms different from underlies the input channel 394, and guide counterelec
those illustrated in FIGS. 29-35. For example, splitters trodes 404 and 406 underlie the output channels 396 and
may be constructed utilizing generally tubular guide 398, respectively, for the application of appropriate
components as discussed hereinbefore. O voltages to enhance the propagation of EV's along the
14. Deflection Switches respective guide paths.
As noted, not only may EV's and EV chains be prop Two deflection electrodes 408 and 410 are also posi
agated in selected directions by use of guide compo tioned on the bottom side of the base 392 opposite the
nents, but the guide components may also include turns guide channels 394–398 and the transition region 400,
in the guide paths to selectively change the direction of 15 the deflector electrodes extending laterally from posi
propagation. The guide components influence the di tions partly underlying the transition region outwardly
rection of propagation of EV's due to the attraction to provide relatively large surface area electrodes.
EV's experience toward the dielectric guide surfaces Thus, an EV entering the transition region 400 from the
caused by image charge forces on the EV's, as well as input guide channel 394 may be deflected to the left (as
the fields established by counterelectrodes further at 20 viewed from the point of view of the EV entering the
tracting the EV's to the dielectric guide surfaces. The transition region) by a positive charge placed on the left
direction of propagation of EV's and EV bead chains deflector electrode 408 and/or a negative charge placed
may also be influenced by the use of transverse electric on the right deflector electrode 410. In this way, the
fields acting on the electric charge of the EV entities to path of propagation of the EV is turned from the gener
deflect them to new, selected directions. The extent of 25 ally straight line path enforced within the input guide
the deflection will depend on the size of the deflecting channel 394. By appropriate application of charge to
field as well as the period of time over which the field the deflector electrode 408 and/or the deflector elec
is applied to the EV entity. Additionally, the deflecting trode 410, the EV path may be deflected so that the EV
field can be turned on or off, or set at varying strengths enters the first, or left, output guide channel 396 along
to selectively deflect EV's differing amounts, or not at 30 which the EV may continue to propagate. Alterna
all, as the EV's traverse a particular region. Of course, tively, charge may be placed on one or both of the
there is a bilateral effect present, and the deflecting deflector plates 408 and 410 to deflect the path of propa
mechanism, whatever form it may take, may experience gation of an EV emerging from the input channel 394 so
undesirable reaction from a countervoltage caused by that the EV enters the second, or right, output channel
the EV passage. 35 398, along which the EV may continue to propagate.
As EV's move along guide paths, such as provided by The deflection switch operates by allowing an EV to
guide grooves as previously described for example, the move from a relatively highly stable path in the input
EV propagation path is very stable, not only due to the guide channel into a region of relative instability within
potential well the EV's are traveling in due to the di which the path may be selectively deflected by the
electric image charge and counterelectrode field, but 40 application of a deflector field, whereupon the EV may
also to the transverse wall boundaries established by the enter an output guide channel providing another rela
dielectric groove in two or more transverse directions. tively highly stable propagation path. The transition
In order that an EV, moving along a guide channel, from the input guide channel to the transition region
may be deflected sideways by an applied field to a new should be done in a manner that does not set up tran
direction of propagation, the guide constraints in the 45 sients in the EV path, otherwise spurious switching can
direction of deflection must be sufficiently low to per result. Feedback from the deflected EV can be used to
mit the deflection under the influence of a deflecting completely relieve the effects of input loading or cou
field. At the least, the region in which deflection is to pling. For example, any nearby electrode will pick up
occur must be free of any guide channel wall that would voltage feedback as an EV passes; the feedback signal
interfere with the transverse deflection of the EV. In 50 can be communicated to a deflection plate through an
general, an EV moving along a guide channel and expe appropriate variable amplitude, phase inverter cou
riencing a highly stable propagation path must be ex pling. Those skilled in the art will recognize this as a
posed to a relatively unstable path in the region of the push-pull device. By reversing leads, it can be used to
deflection; after the desired deflection has occurred, the provide cross coupling. Such a feedback electrode 412
EV may again enter a relatively highly stable propaga 55 is shown positioned on the top of the base 392 adjacent
tion path along a guide channel, for example. Where a the left output channel 396 and connected by an appro
choice is permitted, the EV may proceed in one of two priate lead to a coupling circuit 413, the output of which
or more available post-deflection propagation paths, is connected to the left side deflection electrode 408. A
depending on the application of a deflection field. A similar feedback electrode 414 is positioned on top of
device which is thus used to selectively change the 60 the base adjacent to the right output channel 398 and
direction of propagation of an EV or EV chain, for connected to a coupling circuit 415, the output of which
example, is a deflection switch. is connected to the right side deflection electrode 410.
FIGS. 36-38 illustrate top, side and end views, re In this way, degenerative or regenerative feedback may
spectively, of a deflection switch shown generally at be achieved to produce a stable or unstable, that is,
390. The EV deflection switch 390 is a single pole, 65 bistable, switching process, respectively. Other known
double throw switch, constructed with a dielectric base feedback effects may be achieved, with a different feed
392 incorporating a single input guide channel 394 and back circuit for each effect Similarly, filters can be
first and second output guide channels 396 and 398, constructed with the feedback. circuitry to limit the
 5,018,180
35 36
switching of EV's to an output channel according to disturbance with the use of a mechanical design to pro
charge magnitude or other parameters, for example. vide a gradual transition of the EV from the influence of
There is a considerable advantage in having the feed the input guide channel to the intermediate guide re
back circuit use electromagnetic components operating gion. For example, such a deflection switch may feature
near the velocity of light to circumvent the delays that an input guide groove which tapers in the thickness
would otherwise produce poor transient response. Con direction, or depth, in conjunction with an input guide
ventional resistor, capacitor and inductance compo counterelectrode which may end relatively abruptly,
nents in general work well with EV's traveling at about and may even be squared off for example. For example,
0.1 the velocity of light. a tapered top surface 422 about the input channel 394 is
The deflection switch 390 illustrated in FIGS. 36-38 10 shown in phantom in FIG. 37 as an illustration of such
may be constructed by etching the guide paths and mechanical design. The input guide channel gradually
transition region into fused silica using photolitho loses its effectiveness in guiding the EV as the EV ad
graphic techniques, for example. The conductive elec vances toward the deflection region, thus negotiating a
trode deposits can be made using vacuum evaporation transition between the two regions with little distur
or sputtering methods. The depth and width of the 5 bance of the propagation path of the EV in the absence
input and output guide channels should be approxi of a deflector field, and again providing relatively high
mately 0.05 mm for operation with EV's generated at deflection sensitivity. It will be appreciated that etching
about 1 kV. The deflection voltages applied to the de techniques in general yield tapered edges rather than
flector electrodes may range from tens of volts to kilo abrupt, squared-off edges at the ends of surfaces. This
volts, depending upon the degree of stability of the path 20 naturally occurring etch taper may be exaggerated to
of the EV passing through the transition, or deflection, achieve the taper such as illustrated at 422 in FIG. 37.
region. The degree of stability of the EV path within A technique to give greater stability against charge
the transition region depends upon the shape and length collection is to use a low resistance coating for the
of the transition region as well as the configurations of deflector electrodes, and placing these electrodes on the
the counterelectrodes. 25 upper surface within the transition region 400 rather
To optimize the deflection sensitivity of a switch, the than under the region. Thus, the EV path will generally
EV propagation path should be more unstable down the cross a deflector electrode. Dielectric charging is pre
middle of the transition region. For example, the deflec vented by using this deflection method.
tion switch 390 features a transition guide portion 400 15. EV Oscilloscope
with side walls 416 which intersect the input channel An EV or EV bead chain traveling across a surface in
guide walls at right angles to mark an abrupt end of the vacuum may do so in an erratic fashion due to local
input guide channel 394. Such an abrupt mechanical fields and surface disturbances. Such movement is ac
transition requires high deflection voltages to selec companied by the ejection of electrons from the EV so
tively control and deflect the EV's within the transition that its path is visible when viewed by an electron imag
region since the EV's can merely lock onto one of the 35 ing system or by the ejected electrons striking a nearby
side walls of the transition guide region 400, opposite to phosphor that produces visible light. By utilizing field
the desired deflection direction. Consequently, high forming structures, such as deflection electrodes, to
deflection voltage would be required to switch an EV impress electric fields to control the path of an EV, the
across the transition guide section 400 to the opposite path, and therefore its optical image, can be made to
wall. describe the time varying function of the applied volt
The transition from the input channel 394 to the de age, thus providing the functions of an oscilloscope.
flection guide area 400 can be made more gradual, and This can be effectively achieved by extending the qual
the deflection sensitivity of the device increased, by ity of the stabilizing and deflection methods of the EV
particularly patterning the electrodes, including the Switch 390 of FIGS. 36-38.
input guide counterelectrode 402. For example, as illus An EV oscilloscope of the planar type is illustrated
trated, the input guide counterelectrode 402 does not generally at 424 in FIG. 39, and includes a dielectric
end at the intersection of the input guide channel 394 substrate, or base, 426 featuring an EV input guide
with the intermediate transition section 400, but rather channel 428 opening onto a flat transition, or deflection,
continues on in a tapered portion 418 extending partly area 430 after the fashion of the transition area 400 of
under the intermediate section. Accordingly, the deflec 50 the deflection switch 390 in FIG. 36. A guide counter
tor electrodes 408 and 410 are truncated to parallel the electrode 432 underlies the guide groove 428, but ends
tapered portion 418 of the input counterelectrode 402. in an extended taper under the deflection area 430 as
Such an electrical transition technique allows an EV to illustrated. The leading wall 434 of the deflection area
move from the input guide channel 394 to the interme 430 is set at a 90° angle relative to the input channel 428.
diate guide section 400 with little disturbance, that is, 55 Consequently, the combination of the tapered counter
with no significant change in propagation path in the . electrode 432 and the structure of the deflection area
absence of a deflector field, thereby promoting high wall 434 relative to the input channel 428 maximizes the
deflection sensitivity. Without the use of a counterelec stability of EV's or EV chains entering the deflection
trode in general, the EV propagation path cannot be area from the input channel as discussed hereinbefore in
readily predicted. connection with the deflection switch 390.
As illustrated, the intermediate region 400 forms a Two deflector electrodes 436 and 438 are provided
shallow V-shaped wall 420 between the first and second on the underside of the substrate 426 as illustrated to
output guide channels 396 and 398, respectively. The selectively apply a signal to act on EV's moving across
shape of this portion 420 of the intermediate guide sec a selected portion, the active area indicated by the bro
tion side wall is relatively ineffective in controlling the 65 ken line H, of the transition area 430. The entire interior
stability of the EV paths within the intermediate region. area of the transition region 430 may be coated with
Alternatively, an EV may be introduced into the resistive material to suppress surface charge and act as a
intermediate transition section for deflection with low terminator for the transmission line feeding in the de
 5,018, 180 38
37
flection signal to the deflection electrodes 436 and 438. range of the display is determined by selecting a particu
The bottom surface of the deflection area 430 must be lar attenuation for the signal before it is impressed upon
smooth to avoid local unintended structures which the deflection electrodes 436 and 438. Due to the small
might deflect an EV. The EV, or EV chain, propagates size of the EV and its relatively high velocity, the band
out of the active area Hand the deflection region 430 in width of an EV oscilloscope is relatively large. Single
general, and may eventually be caught by a collector event waveforms can be analyzed when the transition
anode (not shown). times lie in the 0.1 picosecond range. Such a fast oscillo
FIG. 40 is an end view of the EV oscilloscope 424, scope provides a significant tool in analyzing high speed
showing the addition of a phosphor screen 440. The effects obtained with use of EV's. For such wide band
screen 440 is to be positioned over at least the active 10 widths, as is possible with the "picoscope,” it is neces
area H, but may extend over the entire transition area sary to compensate the attenuators used in the signal
430 or even the entire substrate 426 as illustrated. Elec input circuitry to the deflection electrodes 436 and 438.
trons emitted from the EV or EV chain moving under Use of microstructures in constructing the EV scope
the influence of the applied deflection field interact with avoids excessive signal time delays. The scope 424 and
the phosphor 440 to emit light. An optical microscope 15 any associated circuitry should be operated as closely as
442 is positioned to receive light emitted from the phos possible to the electrical event being measured to pre
phor 440 for magnification and observation. A light vent dispersion in the coupling transmission lines. For
intensifying television camera can also be used in this much of the work in the range of an EV scope, the
configuration in place of the optical microscope. Mag scope may be effectively embedded in the region gener
nification for the viewing system, whether a micro 20 ating the signal. The picoscope essentially becomes a
scope or a television camera, should be sufficient to "chip scope," and may be considered practically dispos
show an object of several micrometers, the approximate able.
size of an EV. Utilizing a television monitor to view the 16. Electron Camera
activity of the oscilloscope provides both increased As noted hereinbefore, an electron camera may be
sensitivity and easy recording ability. Additionally, an 25 utilized to view the electron emissions from EV's mov
electron camera, described hereinafter in Section 16, ing on an EV oscilloscope, such as the picoscope 424 of
can be utilized to look directly at an EV traveling on FIGS. 39 and 40. Such an electron camera is shown
the transition area 430, or even in space. generally at 450 in FIGS. 41 and 42. The camera 450
Any EV source compatible with launching into includes a metallic casing 452 which serves as an electri
guides can be utilized with the EV oscilloscope 424. If 30 cal shield against stray fields which might otherwise
appropriate, a separator or selector may also be utilized affect the manipulation of charge within the casing. A
to provide the desired EV or EV chain entering the pinhole aperture 454 is provided as an entrance to the
scope guide channel 428. Typically, the formation and casing 452 to allow electrons, ions, neutral particles or
launching voltage used to obtain EV's for the oscillo photons, to enter the casing while assisting in screening
scope 424 may range between 200 volts and 2 kV de 35 out stray charge, for example. Typical scale for the
pending upon the size of the structures utilized. As in camera 452 is indicated by the 25 millimeter dimension
the case of the deflector switch 390 of FIGS. 36-38, the shown in FIG. 42. Typical lateral dimension of the
design of the guide channel 428 (such as its length) and aperture 454 is approximately 50 micrometers.
counterelectrode 432, and the deflection region 430 A pair of deflector plates 456 and 458 are positioned
must be such as to provide a stabilized EV launched within the casing 452 so that charged particles entering
into the deflection region 430 without locking onto the the aperture 454 are generally directed between the
side walls of the deflection region. The scope 424 effec deflection plates. Terminals 460 and 464 extend from
tively operates, in part, as an analog-type of switch with the deflection plates 456 and 458, respectively, through
many output states that are determined by the voltage the wall of the casing 452 and are insulated therefrom
applied to the deflector electrodes 436 and 438. 45 by insulation shafts 462 and 466, respectively. A combi
The velocity of the EV moving out of the guide nation channel electron multiplier (CEM) and phosphor
screen 468 is positioned across the end of the casing 452
channel 428 and across the deflection region 430, cou opposite
pled with the image magnification provided by the the aperture 454. Charged particles impact the
optical microscope, television system or electron cam CEM, which produces a cascade effect to yield a mag
era, for example, represent the horizontal scan rate of 50 nified charge impact on the screen, which glows to
the oscilloscope 424 while the electric field impressed optically signal the original impact on the CEM at the
orthogonally to this motion, by use of the deflector location opposite the glow on the screen. The construc
electrodes 436 and 438, displays the vertical axis. The tion and operation of such a CEM and phosphor screen
EV motion resulting is not a true function of the poten combination 468 are known, and need not be further
tial impressed upon the deflection electrodes 436 and 55 described in detail herein.
438, but rather an integral of the function. The casing 452 is open at the phosphor screen, except
Synchronization of the EV trace with the electrical with the possible addition of a conducting film to com
event being analyzed by use of the scope 424 may be plete the shielding provided by the casing, but which
accomplished by generating the EV's slightly before will not interfere with the emergence of light from the
the event is to be displayed, as is usual for oscillogra 60 phosphor screen to be viewed outside the casing. Al
phy. The sensitivity and sweep speed of the scope 424 though not shown in the drawings, the CEM and phos
may be varied by changing the entire device geometri phor screen 468 are provided with appropriate lead
cally, or at least viewing a longer EV run in an extended connections by which selected voltages may be applied
active area H for longer sweep times. Typically, the thereto separate from the potential at which the casing
distance between nearest points of the two deflector 65 452 may be set, and by which a potential difference may
electrodes 436 and 438 may be in the range of approxi be effected between the CEM and the phosphor screen.
mately 1 millimeter, and impressed signal frequencies Typically, the potential difference between the CEM
on the order of 100 GHz may be utilized. The voltage and the phosphor screen is 5 kV, while the CEM gain is
 5,018,180
39 40
independently varied by setting its potential. In general, same plane. In this way, the location of an EV, for
the various components of the camera 450, including example, passing in front of the two cameras may be
the case 452, may be set at either polarity and at any determined in three dimensions. As illustrated, the cam
potential, at least up to 5 kV. eras 450 and 450' are positioned along the x and y axes,
In addition to the capability of having various volt respectively, of an orthogonal xyz coordinate system,
ages applied to the casing 452, CEM and phosphor with the cameras "looking back' toward the origin of
screen 468 and electrodes 456 and 458, the camera 450 the coordinate system. Two sets of deflecting elec
may also be mounted for selected movement and posi trodes, including electrodes 476 and 478 located in mu
tioning relative to whatever is being examined by means tual opposition along the x axis, and electrodes 480 and
of the camera. Thus, for example, it may be appropriate 10 482 also located in mutual opposition and along a line
to move the camera longitudinally and/or sideways, or perpendicular to the axis of orientation of the first pair
rotate the camera about any of its axes. of electrodes 476 and 478, that is, along the y axis, may
Charged particles, such as electrons, entering the be positioned as illustrated to selectively deflect an EV
aperture 454 may strike the CEM 468 at any point in the combined field of view of the cameras 450 and
thereof, with the result that a bright spot is produced on 15 450'. The electrodes 476-482 may be thin wires, say on
the phosphor screen and can be viewed as an indication the order of 0.5 mm in diameter, so that the wires 478
of some event. The deflection plates 456 and 458 are and 4.81 nearest the cameras 450 and 450', respectively,
provided for use in performing charge or energy analy may be placed in front of the respective cameras with
sis, for example, or in other measurements. Retarding out interfering with the line of sight of the cameras, that
potential methods, utilizing the voltage on the CEM, is, the cameras “see sround' the wire electrodes. Ap
for example, may also be used in the analyses. Such propriate leads to the electrodes 476-482 permit setting
analysis techniques are known, and need not be de them at desired potentials. In this way, as noted herein
scribed in detail herein. before in the discussion of an EV oscilloscope in Sec
The pinhole camera 450 has a variety of applications tion 15, an EV oscilloscope operating in three dimen
in conjunction with EV's, for example. In FIG. 41, an 25 sions can be constructed and utilized with two electron
EV source 470 and anode 472 are positioned in front of Ca3S
the camera aperture 454 so that EV's may be extracted FIG. 44 also illustrates the use of a third electron
from the source and passed through an aperture in the camera 450" positioned along the Z axis, for example, to
extracting anode. The EV's will strike the front of the further observe the behavior of EV's in three dimen
camera 450 around the aperture 454, which may be in a 30 sions in conjunction with the x and y cameras, 450 and
molybdenum plate. A brass ring (not shown) may be 450', respectively. Field electrodes 484 and 486 are
placed in front of the plate with the aperture 454 to provided along the z axis to deflect EV's in that direc
receive the EV's and prevent them from striking the tion.
face of the camera 450. A metal foil may be placed Two electron cameras may be positioned along the
across the aperture 454 to serve as a target. In another 35 same line, such as cameras 450' and 450' shown in
such arrangement, the combination of the EV source FIG. 44 facing each other along the z axis, to perform
470 and the extractor 472 may be positioned at a differ Doppler energy analyses on electrons, for example.
ent angular orientation relative to the camera 450, such As in the case of the picoscope of Section 15, for
as at 90° relative to the configuration illustrated in FIG. example, any appropriate EV source, with EV manipu
41 so that generated EV's are made to pass by the cam lating components disclosed herein, may be utilized to
era aperture 454 with the result that some electrons introduce EV's into the field of observation of any of
emitted from the passing EV may enter the camera the camera arrangements indicated in FIG. 44.
aperture for observation of the EV propagation. 17. Multielectrode Sources
FIG. 43 illustrates how the camera 450 may be used The separators, selectors and launchers described
in conjunction with an EV oscilloscope such as the 45 hereinbefore are forms of multielectrode sources, or EV
picoscope 424 of FIG. 39. As illustrated in FIG. 43, the generators, designed for specific purposes as noted; that
camera 450 may be positioned facing the active area H is, these devices include electrodes in addition to a cath
of the oscilloscope 424 with the camera aperture a short ode and single anode, or counterelectrode used togen
distance therefrom so that electron emission from an erate EV's. Multielectrode devices may be used for
EV being used to trace a signal on the scope active area 50 other purposes as well. For some applications, it may be
may enter the camera through the camera aperture and necessary to maintain a fixed cathode and anode poten
be detected by the CEM and phosphor screen. For such tial difference for EV generation while still exercising
use of the camera, the deflection plates 456 and 458 may selective control over the production of EV's. This may
be maintained at ground potential, for example, while be accomplished by adding a control electrode to form
the CEM is maintained at sufficient voltage to acceler 55 a triode. One version of a triode source is shown gener
ate the EV-emitted electrons to strike the CEM. The ally at 490 in FIG. 45. The triode 490 is constructed on
lens system of a television camera 474 is illustrated a dielectric base 492 featuring an elongate guide groove
facing the light output end of the camera 450 in FIG. 43. 494 in which is located a planar cathode 496. An anode,
The CEM and phosphor screen combination already or counterelectrode, 498 is positioned on the opposite
provides a magnification of approximately 5 in the cam 60 side of the base 492 from the cathode 496, and toward
era 450 as illustrated. The overall magnification of the the opposite end of the base. A control electrode 500 is
combination of the electron camera 450 and the televi also positioned on the opposite side of the base 492 from
sion camera 474 may be increased by use of the televi the cathode 496, but closer longitudinally to the end of
sion system. the cathode then is the anode 498. Effectively, the con
FIG. 44 shows yet another use of an electron camera 65 trol electrode 500 is positioned between the cathode 496
450, here in conjunction with a second electron camera and the anode 498 so that the voltage of the control
450' positioned so that the longitudinal axes of the two electrode may significantly affect the electric field at
cameras are mutually perpendicular and may be in the the emission end of the cathode where EV's are formed.
 5,018, 180 42
41
With fixed potentials applied to the cathode 496 and graphic methods may be used to construct the tetrode.
anode 498, an EV may be generated at the cathode by Typically, aluminum oxide may be used to form the
pulsing the control electrode 500 in a positive sense. dielectric base 512, and molybdenum may be the con
There is a sharp threshold for effecting field emission at ductor material used to form the various electrodes.
the cathode, the process that initiates the generation of Other choices for materials include diamond-like car
an EV. Therefore, a bias voltage may be applied to the bon for the dielectric and titanium carbide or graphite
control electrode 500 with a pulse signal of modest for the conductor. In general, any stable dielectric ma
voltage amplitude to generate EV's. In such case, no dc terial and stable metallic conductor material may be
current is drawn from the control electrode 500, but utilized. The cathode 516 may be wetted with liquid
large accurrents are present with the pulsed signal. O metal as discussed hereinbefore. However, with small
A triode operates by raising the cathode emission structures in thermal equilibrium, there is the possible
density to the critical point required for the generation danger of the migratory metal straying to places other
of an EV. As in triodes in general, some interaction than the cathode 516 to alter the electrode configura
between the control electrode 500 and the output of the tion. Alternatively, the planar cathode 516 may be
source 490 may occur. The control electrode 500 must 15 pointed at the end 526 to provide a sharpened tip to aid
be driven hard enough to force the first EV and a subse in the production of field emitted electrons in EV for
quent EV into existence because of the strong feedback mation, rather than relying on metal wetting to restore
effects that tend to suppress the creation of the EV's. a cathode edge for EV production. Multielectrode
Standard feedback at high frequencies diminishes the sources such as the triode 490 and the tetrode 510 illus
gain of the generator, so that the control electrode can 20 trated herein may be operated in vacuum, or in selected
not be raised to sufficiently high positive potential to gas pressure as discussed hereinbefore in relation to
effect subsequent EV generation. For example, as the other devices.
control electrode voltage is being raised in a positive Multielectrode sources are discussed in further detail
sense to effect initial EV generation at the cathode 496, in Section 21 on field emission sources, wherein an
the capacitance of the combination of the control elec 25 operating circuit is indicated for a tetrode source.
trode and the anode 498 increases due to the presence of The previously described triode devices, including
an EV as well as the increase in the control electrode the separators, selectors and launchers, may be pro
voltage. When the first EV formation begins, the effect vided in tetrode form as well. While several multielec
of the control voltage is reduced due to space charge.
As the EV leaves the region over the control electrode 30 trode generators are illustrated and described herein,
500 and approaches the region over the anode 498, useful in variousemploying
other apparatus two or more electrodes and
there is a voltage coupled to the control electrode that poses may be adaptable to EVand
applications for a range of pur
technology. In general,
depends upon the anode instantaneous potential, and techniques used in the operation of vacuum tubes can be
which inhibits raising the control electrode potential for used effectively in various EV generation or manipula
generation of the subsequent EV. This coupling can be 35 tion devices.
reduced by incorporating still another electrode to pro 18. Electrodeless Sources
duce a tetrode.
A planar tetrode source is shown generally at 510 in at 530 another
Yet type of EV generator is shown generally
FIGS. 46-48. A dielectric base 512 features a guide lope 532 features Athree
in FIG. 49. generally elongate dielectric enve
groove 514 in which a planar cathode 516 is located. On fixed to exterior surfaceselectrodes 534, 536 and 538,
of the envelope. The two
the opposite side of the base 512, and toward the oppo electrodes 534 and 538 are positioned on opposite ends
site end thereof, from the cathode 516 is an anode, or of the envelope 532 while the intermediate electrode
counter-electrode, 518. A control electrode 520, similar 536 is shown located approximately one-third
to the control electrode 500 shown in FIG. 45, is posi distance from the electrode 534 to the electrodeof538. the
tioned on the opposite side of the base 512 from the 45 The end electrode 538 is an extractor electrode which is
cathode 546 crossing under the guide groove 514, and is used in the manipulation of EV's after their formation.
located between the longitudinal position of the anode
518 and that of the cathode. Consequently, the control The remaining electrodes 534 and 536 are utilized in the
formation of EV's. The intermediate electrode 536 is in
electrode 520 may be biased and pulsed to effect genera the form of a ring electrode surrounding the envelope
tion of EV's from the cathode 516 as described in rela 50
tion to the triode source 490 in FIG. 45, even with the 532. In the particular embodiment illustrated, the ring
electrode 536 is located within the exterior formation of
cathode and anode potentials held constant.
A feedback electrode 522 is also positioned on the a constriction that defines an interior aperture 540 sepa
opposite side of the base 512 from the cathode 516. The rating the interior of the envelope 532 into a formation
chamber 542, to the left as viewed in FIG. 49, and an
feedback electrode 522 is positioned sufficiently close to 55 exploitation, or working, chamber 544, to the right as
the anode 518 to diminish any coupling between the
control electrode 520 and the anode. Further, as may be viewed in FIG. 49. Likewise, the end electrode 534 is
appreciated by reference to FIG. 46, the feedback elec positioned within the depression formed by an indenta
trode 522 extends partly into a recess 524 in the side of tion into the end of the envelope 532. Consequently, the
the anode 518 so that the anode partially shields the 60 intermediate electrode 536 is frustoconical, and the end
feedback electrode from the control electrode 520 to electrode 534 is conical; the extractor electrode 538 is
minimize any inadvertent coupling between the control planar. The indentation and constriction on which the
electrode and the feedback electrode. electrodes 534 and 536, respectively, are located are not
The tetrode at 510 illustrated in FIGS. 46-48 may be necessary for the formation of EV's, but serve other
constructed utilizing microlithographic film techniques. 65 purposes as discussed hereinafter. Although the work
The width of the EV guide groove 514 may range from ing chamber 544 is illustrated as approximately twice
approximately 1 micrometer to approximately 20 mi the length of the formation chamber 542, the working
crometers; therefore, either optical or electron litho chamber may be virtually any length.
 5,018,180
43 44
When bipolar electrical energy, such as radio fre structed with a smaller distance separating the forma
quency energy, is applied to the first and second elec tion electrodes 534 and 536 whereby EV's can be gener
trodes 534 and 536, respectively, mounted on the dielec ated with as low as a few hundred volts applied. More
tric envelope 532 which contains a gas, EV's are formed over, the electrodeless source may be planar.
within the formation chamber 542 even though the 19. Traveling Wave Components
external metallic electrodes are isolated from the inter One use for EV's generated within a dielectric enve
nal discharge. A cathode is utilized to generate the EV's lope such as provided by the source 530 of FIG. 49 is in
although the isolated first electrode 534 appears as a a traveling wave circuit, and particularly in a traveling
"virtual cathode.' Such "electrodeless,' or isolated wave tube. Such a device provides a good coupling
cathode, EV production may be desirable under some 10 technique for exchanging energy from an EV to a con
conditions, such as when there is danger of damaging ventional electrical circuit, for example. In general, an
electrodes by sputtering action due to high voltage EV current manipulated by any of the guiding, generat
discharge EV production. ing or launching devices described herein may be cou
For a given set of parameters such as spacing, gas pled for such an exchange of energy. For example, a
pressure and voltage, the discharge is particularly effec 15 traveling wave tube is shown generally at 550 in FIG.
tive in producing and guiding EV's (as discussed in 50, and includes a launcher (generally of the type illus
connection with gas and optical guides, for example), trated in FIG. 25), or cathode, 552 for launching or
when the atomic number of the interior gas is high. For generating EV's within a cylindrically symmetric EV
example, in the range of effectiveness, argon ranks low; guide tube 554, at the opposite end of which is an anode,
krypton is more effective; xenon is the most effective of 20 or collector electrode, 556. A counterelectrode ground
the three, assuming the spacing, pressure and voltage plane 558 is illustrated exterior to and along the guide
conditions remain the same. tube 554, and may partially circumscribe the guide tube.
Propagation of EV's through the gas within the enve The ground plane 558 cannot completely circumscribe
lope 532 produces ion streamers, as described hereinbe the tube 554 because such construction would shield the
fore, appearing as very thin, bright lines in the free gas 25 electromagnetic radiation signal from propagating out
or attached to the wall of the envelope. One or more of the tube. Appropriate mounting and sealing fittings
EV's may follow along an ion streamer established by 560 and 562 are provided for positioning the launcher or
an earlier propagated EV. The first EV of such a series cathode 552 and anode 556, respectively, at the opposite
is propagated without charge balance; subsequent EV's ends of the guide tube 554.
passing along the same ion sheath established by the 30 A conducting wire helix 564 is disposed about the
first EV of the series do so with charge balance main guide tube 554 and extends generally between, or just
tained. As multiple EV's propagate along the same overlaps, the launcher 552 and the anode 556. The helix
streamer, the thickness of the ion sheath increases. 564 is terminated in a load 566, which represents any
The dielectric envelope 532 may typically be made of appropriate application but which must match the impe
aluminum oxide and have an internal transverse thick 35 dance of the helix to minimize reflections. A pulsed
ness of approximately 0.25 mm for operation at 3 kilo input signal may be fed to the launcher or cathode 552
volt peak voltage between the two formation electrodes through an optional input, current-limiting, resistor 568.
534 and 536, with an interior pressure of 0.1 atmosphere The input resistor 568 may be deleted if it consumes too
of xenon gas, such parameters, the spacing between the much power for a given application. EV energy not
formation electrodes 534 and 536 should be approxi expended to the helix 564 is collected at the anode 556
mately 1 mm. The dielectric may be metallized with and a collector resistor 570 to ground. An output termi
silver for the formation of the electrodes 534-538. nal 572 is provided for communication to an appropri
The frustoconical shape of the first electrode 534 ate detector, such as an oscilloscope, for example, for
tends to stabilize the position of the EV formation. The wave form monitoring.
annular constriction provides the aperture 540 of ap 45 The velocity of an EV is typically 0.1 the velocity of
proximately 5x 10-2 mm for the remaining above light, or a little greater, and this speed range compares
noted parameters. The aperture 540 permits operation favorably with the range of delays that can be achieved
at different pressures on opposite sides thereof between by helix and serpentine delay line structures. For exam
the formation chamber 542 and the exploitation cham ple, the length of the helix 564 and of the EV path from
ber 544, when appropriate pumping is utilized to pro 50 the launcher or cathode 552 to the anode 556 may be
duce the pressure differential by means of gas pressure approximately 30 cm with the helix so constructed to
communication lines (not shown). For example, re achieve a delay of approximately 16 ns at a helix impe
duced gas pressure in the exploitation chamber reduces dance of approximately 200 ohms. The impedance and
the guiding effect of the streamers for easier selective delay of the helix 564 are affected, in part, by the capaci
manipulation of the EV's. EV's in the exploitation, or 55 tive coupling to the ground plane 558. The inside diam
load, chamber may be controlled by application of ap eter of the glass or ceramic tubing 554 may be approxi
propriately variable amplitude or timing potentials to mately 1 mm or smaller, with the tubing having an
the extractor electrode 538, as well as other external outside diameter of approximately 3 mm. An EV can be
electrodes (not shown) for example, for useful manipu launched at a voltage of 1 kV (determined primarily by
lation of the EV's. For a given pumping rate, a greater the source) at a xenon gas pressure of 10-2 torr to
pressure differential may be maintained on opposite achieve an output pulse of several kv, for example, from
sides of the aperture 540 for a smaller diameter aperture. the helix 564.
The aperture diameter may be reduced to approxi As an example, with a mercury wetted copper wire as
mately 2.5X 102 mm and still allow passage of EV's a cathode in place of the launcher 552, a xenon gas
therethrough. If the gas pressure in the exploitation 65 pressure of approximately 10-2 torr, an input pulse
chamber is sufficiently low, the EV's will propagate voltage 600 ns wide at 1 kv with a firing rate of 100
without visible streamer production as "black' EV's. pulses per second impressed through a 1500 ohm input
Furthermore, an electrodeless source can be con resistor 568, and with an anode voltage of zero and a
 5,018, 180 46
45
target load 570 of 50 ohms, an output voltage of -2 kv An EV is characterized by a large, negative electric
was achieved on a 200 ohm delay line 564 and an output charge concentrated in a small volume and traveling at
voltage into the target 556 of -60 volts. A faint purple relatively high speed, so that an EV or EV chain can be
glow was established within the tube 554 and, when a used to generate a high voltage fast rise and fall pulse.
positive input voltage was applied to the anode 556, For example, any of the devices described herein for
visual EV streamers were present for the last centimeter generation of EV's may be utilized in conjunction with
of the EV run just before striking the anode. The wave a selector, such as shown in FIG. 26 or FIG. 27, to
form generated in the helix 564 is a function of the gas obtain the desired charge structure to provide EV's at a
pressure. Generally, a sharp negative pulse of approxi capturing electrode whereby the high charge density of
mately 16 ns in length was produced with the aforemen 10 an EV is converted to an electromagnetic pulse with the
tioned parameters, followed by a flat pulse having a desired overall pulse shape. A switching, or pulse rise,
length that was linearly related to the gas pressure, and speed as fast as approximately 10 seconds may be
which could be made to vary from virtually zero at obtained when a 1 micrometer EV bead containing 1011
preferred conditions of minimal gas pressure to as long elementary charges and traveling at 0.1 the velocity of
as one millisecond. The input pulse repetition rate may 15 light is captured on an electrode system designed for the
be reduced for such high gas pressure values to permit desired bandwidth. The voltage generated depends
clearing of ions within the tube between pulses to ac upon the impedance of the circuit capturing the EV's,
commodate the long output pulse. The magnitude of the but will generally be in the range of several kV.
negative pulse increased as the gas pressure decreased. A pulse generator is shown generally at 600 in FIG.
At minimal gas pressure, only a sharp negative pulse of 20 52, and includes a cylindrically symmetric selector
approximately 16 ns width was obtained. shown generally at 602. A conically-tipped cathode
A planar traveling wave circuit is shown generally at 604, wetted with conducting material, is positioned
580 in FIG. 51, and may be constructed by lithographic within a separator dielectric base 606 and facing an
technology using films of material. A dielectric base 582 aperture 608 thereof. A generating anode 610 coats the
includes a guide channel 584 containing a collector, or 25 exterior of the dielectric base 606, and an extractor
anode, 586. EV's are input by a launcher, or other ap electrode 612 is positioned a short distance in front of
propriate device, at the left end of the guide groove 584 the base aperture. A generally cylindrical conducting
as viewed in FIG. 51, and are further maintained within shield 614 generally circumscribes the separator 602,
the guide groove by use of a counterelectrode (not and is closed by a disk 616 of dielectric material on
visible) on the opposite side of the base 582 from the 30 which is mounted the extractor electrode 612. A con
groove. ductive metal coating in the shape of an annular ring
A serpentine conductor 588 is positioned on the bot provides a conducting terminal 618 on the side of the
tom side of the base 582, underlying the guide groove disk 616 facing the shield 614, and makes electrical
414 as illustrated, and ending in a load resistor, or other contact with the shield. A load resistance 620 provided
type load, 590, as needed. As EV's are launched into 35 by a resistor coating covers the annular surface area
and guided down the groove 584, energy of the EV's is between the extractor electrode 612 and the ring con
transferred to the serpentine conductor 588 and com ductor 618 so that the separator 602 is nearly com
municated to the load 590. Remaining EV energy is pletely surrounded by shielding to limit electrical stray
absorbed at the anode 586, which may be connected to fields and to help complete current paths with minimal
a ground resistor, detector or other load. Although not inductance. The overall size of the pulse generator may
illustrated, it is preferable to have a counterelectrode be approximately 0.5 cm.
under the serpentine conductor, separated by a dielec The external side of the dielectric disk 616, shown
tric layer, to achieve a reasonable line impedance and also in FIG. 53, is virtually a mirror image of the inte
the reduction of radiation, and also a dielectric or space 45 rior side, featuring a circular output electrode 622 con
layer between the groove and the serpentine. nected to an annular ring electrode 624 by a resistive
As an alternative to placing the conductor 588 on the coating 626, with the shape and dimensions of the exte
bottom of the base 582 opposite to the guide groove rior electrodes 622 and 624 being essentially the same as
584, the groove may be covered with a dielectric and a those of the interior electrodes 612 and 618, respec
serpentine conductor such as 588 placed above the di tively. The output electrode 622 is thus capacitively
electric cover to overlie the groove. Without such a SO coupled to the extractor electrode 612 whereby the
dielectric cover layer separating the groove 584 from capture of the relatively high charge of an EV or EV
the conductor above, a counterelectrode must be posi ing chain by the extractor electrode produces a correspond
tioned on the bottom side of the base 584 under the high negative charge on the output electrode.
guide groove to prevent EV's from moving onto the To initiate EV production, an appropriate negative
serpentine conductor. With such an arrangement, elec 55 pulse may be applied to the cathode 604 by means of an
trons emitted during EV propagation down the guide input terminal 628 with the anode 610 maintained at
groove 584 may be collected on the serpentine conduc ground, or a relatively small positive potential, by
tor for added energy transfer. means of a terminal 630 passing through an appropriate
Traveling wave tubes or circuits as illustrated in opening 632 in the shield 614. A more positive extractor
FIGS. 50 and 51, for example, thus provide a technique voltage is applied to the extractor electrode 612
for converting EV energy into energy that may be through a terminal 634 to the shield 614 connected to
communicated by conventional electrical circuitry. the extractor electrode by means of the conducting ring
With such techniques, electromagnetic radiation from 618 and the internal resistor coating 620. When an EV
the microwave region to visible light can be generated is generated and leaves the selector 602, and is captured
by EV pulses and coupled to conventional electrical 65 by the extractor electrode 612, the potential of the ex
circuitry by selectively adjusting the transmission line tractor electrode is rapidly lowered, and rises as the EV
parameters and EV generation energy. charge is dispersed by means of the resistor coating 620
20. Pulse Generator and the shield 614, and ultimately by way of the termi
 5,018,180
47 48
nal 634. The extractor voltage applied to the extractor thermal time constant of the emitter is typically less
electrode 612 is variable so that only selected EV's may than 1 picosecond, the resulting required short switch
be extracted from the selector 602 to provide the output ing time for potentials in the hundreds of volts range
pulses as desired. A bias voltage may be placed on the can be achieved using EV-actuated switching devices,
output electrode 622 by a terminal 636 connected to the such as the pulse generator 600 illustrated in FIGS. 52
ring conductor 624 and ultimately to the output elec and 53.
trode by the resistor coating 626. A field emission EV source is shown generally at 650
In general, for fast pulse times, small, low reactance in FIG. 54, and is constructed and functions similarly to
components with a minimum distance between the vari the pulse generator 600 of FIGS. 52 and 53 with the
ous circuit elements are used. The approach distance of 10 exception that the pulse output electrode 652 of the field
the EV from the selector 602 to the extractor electrode emission source includes a pointed emitter 654 extend
612, and the charge of the EV determine the rise time of ing from the otherwise disk-shaped electrode. An ap
the negative pulse on the output electrode 622. The RC propriate voltage pulse signal is applied to the cathode
constant, or resistance, of the load resistor 620 deter 656 and anode 658 of the separator shown generally at
mines the pulse fall time. For example, output pulses 15 660 to generate EV's, and a selected extractor voltage is
with a rise and fall time of 10-13 seconds minimum may applied to the extractor electrode 662 to attract an EV
be achieved with the "picopulser' 600 having a maxi thereto. Capture of the EV at the extractor electrode
mum external diameter of approximately 0.5 cm. The 662 produces a fast rise negative pulse on the output
load resistor 620 is typically at least as large as about electrode 652 so that a large field is concentrated at the
10 ohms (and can be 10-3 ohms), and may be 20 tip of the emitter 654. The resulting field effect at the tip
achieved by utilizing a thin metallic coating on the of the emitter 654 produces one or more EV's by pure
surface of the dielectric disk 616, which may be ce field emission, with the field emission source operating
ramic, for example. A similar resistive coating may be in vacuum. The EV-generated negative pulse on the
used as the resistor 626 to achieve the output coupling output electrode 652 must also have a short fall time so
and bypass capacitor action. The output resistor 626 25 that the pulse is killed before the emitter 654 is damaged
determines the bias on loads, for example. Where dic in the decline of the pulse. The resistor coating 64 on
current is drawn at the output, the output pulse decay the extractor electrode side of the disk 666 may be ap
times may be varied by varying the output resistive proximately 102 ohms, and the resistor coating 668 on
coating 626, with longer pulse decay times achieved by the field emitter side may be approximately 106 ohms.
increasing the resistance value of the coating, utilizing 30 An EV guide, 670, of the generally cylindrical con
fired-on thick film fabrication techniques, for example. struction illustrated in FIG. 15, for example, is shown
An operating voltage of up to 8 kV for various biases positioned to receive EV's launched from the emitter
can be obtained, with proper attention to the finish of 654 and to manipulate them to whatever load is in
the metal conductive coating rings 618 and 624. The tended.
level of the output pulse may be varied by selectively 35 The field emission generator 650 may be used to form
varying the attenuation factor in the load circuit applied EV's while at the same time testing the field emission
to the terminal 636. cathode 654 for damage in order to optimize the forma
The picopulser 600 thus provides a technique for tion process to minimize damage. A phosphor screen, or
achieving very fast and large voltage pulses by initial a witness plate (not shown), may be positioned appro
generation of EV's or EV chains. For optimum perfor priately to receive EV's formed at the emitter 654. The
mance, the pulse generator 600 should be operated in picopulser is turned off and a bias voltage is applied
W3Cl. through the lead 672 to impress a dc voltage on the
21. Field Emission Sources emitter 654 to draw dc field emission therefrom. Al
The principle requirement for generating an EV is to though the bias voltage applied to the lead 672 is usually
rapidly concentrate a very high, uncompensated elec 45 negative, it can be positive if the EV from cathode 656
tronic charge in a small volume. Such an operation is produced by a voltage higher than 2 kV. Then, the
implies an emission process coupled to a fast switching emission pattern on the adjacent phosphor screen or
process. In the various gaseous EV generators de witness plate may be analyzed in conjunction with the
scribed hereinbefore, the switching process is provided value of the dc bias voltage and current to the emitter
by non-linear actions of gas ionization and possibly 50 654 to determine the cathode radius, crystallographic
some electronic ram effects. The gas switching process status and other morphological characteristics immedi
operates even with the sources utilizing cathodes wet ately after EV generation. Such analysis methods for
ted with liquid metal, once the basic field emission pro field emission surfaces are well known.
cess liberates metal vapor from the cathode region by The peak voltage of the picopulser being used to
thermal evaporation and ionic bombardment. Pure field 55 drive the field emitter 654 can be determined by varying
emission generation of EV's can be achieved with the the bias voltage through the lead 672 to offset the pulse
elimination of all gas and migratory material from the voltage to the cathode 656. In this way, the field emitter
system of EV generation. To achieve such field emis 654 is being used as a very high speed rectifier or detec
sion generation, fast switching must be provided and tor to measure the pulse peak to the cathode 654. To test
coupled to the field emitter so that the emission process characteristics of the EV's produced, a film or foil of
can be switched on and then off again before the emitter smooth metal, as a witness plate, may be positioned in
is heated to the evaporation point by electronic conduc front of an anode (not shown) positioned in front of the
tion. Thus, EV's are generated by a field emission cath emitter 654, and connected to that anode. A spacing of
ode operated in the emission density region beyond that up to one millimeter between the emitter 654 and such
normally used with other field emission devices, by 65 an anode can be used in vacuum when the system is
pulsing the emitter on and off very rapidly, that is, faster operated at approximately 2 kV. The impact mark the
than the thermal time constant of the cathode, thereby EV leaves on the witness plate can be analyzed in a
preventing thermal destruction of the emitter. Since the scanning electron microscope to determine the number
 5,018, 180 50
49
of EV beads formed and their pattern of arrival. Many 686, and provided with appropriate negative potential
high speed effects can be investigated with the genera through a lead 704. The passive energy source 702 may
tor 650 of FIG. 54. If the output from the pulse genera be a capacitor or a strip delay line, as used in hydrogen
tor is kept low in voltage and a sensitive detector used thyratron pulse radar systems for example, with a resis
for detecting emission from the field emitter 654, it is tor or conductor feed. The generating energy source
possible to effectively measure very short pulse voltage 702 typically provides a 1 ps negative pulse when dis
amplitude by a substitution technique using the high charged by means of the potential change on the control
speed rectification ability of the field emitter. The bias electrode 690. Otherwise, a constant potential may be
voltage applied through lead 672 is substituted for the applied between the cathode 686 and the counterelec
pulse voltage. O trode 688,
At high levels of pulse voltage, far into what is usu A phase inverting air core pulse transformer 706 is
ally thought of as the space charge saturation region for selectively operated by a trigger pulse through a lead
a field emitter, the emitter 654 generates bunches of 708 to apply a positive control bias voltage, supplied by
electrons that resemble EV's, as detected on a nearby means of a lead 710, to the control electrode 690 to
witness plate. These small EV's are potentially very 15 initiate the EV field emission generation at the cathode
useful for specialized computer-like applications using 686. The feedback signal needed to sustain emission
charge steering. after the trigger pulse has been removed, and until the
The field emission generator 650 shown in FIG. 54 is stored energy in the power supply 702 has been de
an example of one of the ways relatively large compo pleted, is provided by the transformer 706 by means of
nents can be utilized in reaching the necessary switch 20 the feedback electrode 692.
ing speeds to achieve pure field emission EV produc The field emitters, such as 654 and 686, used in pure
tion. For practical application, it may be desirable to use field emission sources such as those described, should be
a complete system of compatible microcomponents to fabricated from relatively stable material in terms of
fabricate the switching and launching devices. More thermal and ion sputter damage. For example, metal
over, in view of the small sizes and relatively high volt 25 carbides, such as titanium carbide and graphite, provide
ages required, more practical devices for utilizing and such characteristics to make good cathodes. Similarly,
generating EV's formed from relatively pure field emis the dielectric material should be of high stability and
sion may be constructed utilizing microfabrication. high dielectric field strength. Aluminum oxide and dia
FIG. 55 shows a microcircuit using thin film tech mond-like carbon films exhibit such characteristics.
niques to construct a complete system for producing 30 Since there is no self-repairing process available for the
EV's by field emission without relying upon external cathodes, as there is with liquid metal wetted sources, it
EV generators or bulk components that might compli is preferred to use ultra high vacuum at the emitters to
cate high speed operation. Here, the switching process avoid damage thereto by ion bombardment, or modifi
is carried out by feedback on a time scale consistent cation of the surface work function.
with the thermal processes in the EV generator, that is, 35 Prevailing factors preclude the use of pure field emit
the switching rate is equal to or, preferably, faster than ters of large size. The critical limit appears to be approx
the thermal time constants and thernal processes. It is imately one micrometer for the lateral dimension of an
necessary to switch the emitter on and offin less than 1 emitter of the type 686 shown in FIG. 55. For cathodes
ps to prevent cathode destruction. above such size, the stored energy of the associated
The field emission source shown generally at 680 in 40 circuitry places an undue thermal strain on the small
FIG. 55 is similar in construction to the tetrode source emitter area during emission. Below the one microme
510 of FIGS. 46-48. Thus, a dielectric base 682 features ter size range, the field emitter has the advantage of
an elongate groove 684, which may be of generally large cooling effects provided small elements having a
rectangular cross section, in which is positioned a line naturally high surface-to-volume ratio.
cathode source 686 which is operated without being 45 22. X-Ray Source
wetted with a metallic coating. A counterelectrode 688 EV's may be utilized to generate X-rays. An X-ray
is positioned on the opposite side of the base 682 from generator, or source, is shown generally at 720 in FIG.
the groove 684 and toward the opposite end of the base 57, and includes a mercury wetted copper type cathode
from the cathode 686. The counterellectrode 688 under 722, as illustrated in FIG. 4, and a separator 724
lies a portion of the guide groove 684. A control elec 50 equipped with a relative to an anode 728 for generation
trode 690 is also positioned on the same side of the base and propagation of EV's, including possibly EV chains,
682 as the counterelectrode 688, and extends from a side from the cathode through the separator aperture to the
edge of the base to a position underlying and crossing anode.
under the guide groove 684 between the ends of the It has been found that stoppage of an EV on a mate
cathode 686 and the counterelectrode. A feedback elec 55 rial target or anode is accompanied by a flash of light
trode 692 is also positioned on the opposite side of the from the plasma produced and a crater left as a result of
base 682 from the cathode 686, and extends laterally the disruption of the EV and accompanying expendi
across the underside of the base toward the end of the ture of energy. A portion of the energy expended is
counterelectrode 688 closer to the cathode. A leg 694 of carried off in X-ray production. The X-ray source itself
the feedback electrode 692 extends along a recess 696 in 60 within the target 728 is as small as the EV, that is, in a
the counterelectrode 688 whereby the feedback elec range of approximately 1 to 20 micrometers in lateral
trode may interact with a generated EV during the dimension, depending upon how the EV was originally
propagation of the EV along the guide groove 684, made or selected. The small source of X-rays has a
generally for the length of the electrode leg 694. relatively high production efficiency and intensity, pro
FIG. 56 shows a circuit diagram at 700 of the field viding a high total X-ray output compared to the input
65
emission source 680 of FIG.55 and associated apparatus energy. This phenomenon indicates an intense X-ray
for effecting the field emission production of EV's. An production upon disruption of the ordered EV struc
energy storage device 702 is connected to the cathode ture, possibly due to the sudden disruption of the large
 5,018,180 52
S1
magnetic field generated by electron motion within the appropriate to the application moving
through which the EV's are
of the
must be chosen
electron emission.
EV.
A gated, or chopped, electron
Output from the cathode 722 and separator 724 im shown generally at 740 in FIG. 58, and may be part of emission source is
pinges on the anode target 728 to produce emission of 5 a triode-like structure. An RC EV guide 742 is pro
X-rays as indicated schematically in FIG. 57. The mate vided, featuring a guide groove 744 and a counterelec
rial of the target 728 is sufficiently low in inductance to trode (not visible) on the underside of the guide base
cause the EV to effectively break apart. A low atomic from the groove generally like the EV guide illustrated
number material, such as graphite, minimizes damage in FIG. 11. A dielectric plate 746 is positioned immedi
due to EV disruption, and allows relatively easy pas ately over the base of the guide 742. The plate 746
sage of X-rays produced to the output side of the target 10 features openings 748 which overlie the guide groove
728. The X-ray source 720 can be operated either in 744, and are lined with metal coatings 750 which serve
vacuum or in a low pressure gas. For example, in an as gating electrodes. A third element, not shown, may
environment of a few torr of xenon gas, the cathode 722 be an anode or the like positioned above the dielectric
and separator 724 may be spaced as far as approximately
60 cm from the anode target 728, with a pulse signal of 15 plate 746 to receive or collect the emitted electrons; the
2 kV applied to the cathode for the production of EV's. exact nature of the third element is dictated by the use
Analysis of the total X-ray output from the source 720 to Inwhich the electron emission is to be applied.
can be accomplished utilizing known techniques, such erwiseoperation, one or more EV's are launched or oth
propagated into the guide groove 744 as indi
as using filters, or photographic film, or wavelength
dispersion spectrometers. However, since the X-ray 20 cated by the arrow I. As discussed hereinabove, second
photons are all generated at approximately the same ary or field emission effects associated with the passage
time, energy dispersive spectrometers are not able to of the EV down the guide groove 744 result in electron
analyze the spectral energy content of the X-ray output. emission which may be propagated out of the guide
The present invention thus provides an X-ray genera groove, ing been
as indicated by the arrow J, the electrons hav
given initial propagation energy in their forma
25
tor, or source, capable for use as a point source of X tion associated
rays for application in stop motion X-ray photography, with the presence of the EV. In general,
for example. The X-ray generator of the present inven the emitted electrons may be further attracted by the
tion can additionally be used in a wide range of X-ray third component, such as an anode (not shown). How
applications. ever, electron propagation to the third component is
23. Electron Source 30 selectively controlled by the application of appropriate
EV's moving along a guide will generally produce potentials to the control electrodes 750. In general, the
the emission of electrons, which may be collected by a be potential applied to a control electrode 750 will always
collector electrode, for example. In the case of RC EV's. negative relative to the cathode used to generate the
guides, for example, it is possible to collect electron tric 746,In ineffect, each
the gate, or opening, 748 in the dielec
case, may be opened or closed to elec
emission out the top of the guide groove if the groove is 35
sufficiently deep and the EV is strongly locked to the tron passage therethrough by selection of the specific
bottom of the guide groove, or at least the counterelec potentialclose the
on the respective control electrode 750. To
gate 748, the potential on the control electrode
trode on the opposite side of the dielectric base of the 750 is made more negative so that no electron emission
guide. The electrons thus emitted come from secondary will take place therethrough. To open the gate 748, the
and field emission sources that have been produced by potential on the control electrode 750 is made less nega
the energy of the passing EV. Since these electrons tive, that is, relative to the EV-generating cathode, and
have come from a dielectric material with a relatively electron emission through the gate is permitted.
long RC time constant for recharge, it is necessary to As an EV propagates down the guide groove 744, the
wait for such recharge until another EV can occupy the 45 electron emission is generated. However, electrons may
region, and thereby cause further electron emission. In
the LC class of guides, this time delay is relatively short pass through the dielectric plate 746 to the third elec
since recharge is supplied by way of metallic electrodes. trode component only at the locations of the passage
Electrons can be collected for dc output use by simply groove 744Consequently,
ways 748. an EV moving along the guide
supplying a collector electrode, since the emitted elec 50 the dielectric plate 746, withpulses
causes electron to be emitted through
trons have been given initial energy by the EV. In the locations of the passages 748.theFurther, pulses occurring at the
a given passage
case of LC guides, any of the electrodes in the guide 748 may be closed to electron transmission there
structures of FIGS. 20 or 21 can be utilized as collector
electrodes. through by the appropriate potential being placed on
The characteristic of an EV that it can cause electron the respective control electrode 750. Consequently, a
emission enables the EV to be effectively used as a 55 selective pattern of electron emission pulses may be
cathode for various applications. A properly stimulated achieved by appropriate application of potentials to the
EV can be made to emit a fairly narrow band of elec control electrodes 750. The pulse pattern may be fur
tron energies. The primary consideration in using this ther down
varied by propagating a train of EV's or EV chains
the guide groove 744 to achieve, for example, an
type of cathode is determining the mean energy and the extended pattern of electron emission pulses along the
energy spread of the emitted electrons. There is also a array of ports 748, with the potential values placed on
chopping effect that results from having a definite spac
ing between the EV's moving along a guide and pro the various control electrodes 750 themselves changing
ducing electron emission, for example. The chopping with time. Consequently, the electron emission pattern
range is generally available from essentially steady may be varied extensively by both the selection of EV
emission from a virtually continuous train of EV's to a 65 propagation as well as the modulation of potentials on
very pulse-like emission from passing a single EV or the control electrodes 750.
EV chain under an aperture. Consequently, the nature To prevent the EV itself from exiting one of the ports
of the EV propagation as well as the guide structure 748, the groove 744 should be maintained relatively
 5,018, 180 54
53
deep, or alternatively, a spacer (not shown) can be used It will be appreciated that the shapes of the openings
between the plate 746 and the base of the guide 742. 768 in the counterelectrode 766 determine the wave
It will be appreciated that a pattern of electron emis forms to be produced. Aperiodic waveforms, which
sion ports 748 may be provided as desired, with appro may be employed for driving various computer or tim
priate EV guide mechanisms positioned in conjunction ing functions, can be generated with the structure
therewith. The number and positioning of the ports 748 shown in FIG. 59 by appropriately shaping the counter
along the guide groove 744 may be varied to select the electrode openings 768.
electron emission pattern as well. The electron emission The load on the collector electrode 770 must be pro
ports 748 may also be effectively throughbores in a portioned according to the bandwidth of the generated
dielectric plate which completely circumscribes each O waveform. For low frequencies, the output of the col
port, for example. In such case, the control electrodes lector electrode 770 should be connected to a transmis
750 may also line the port walls on all sides. sion line with resistive termination at its characteristic
In general, any type of EV generator that produces impedance. The velocity of the EV's in the guide
the desired EV output for the given application may be groove 764 can be locked into synchronous motion by
utilized to provide the EV's for electron emission. Typi 15 using RF injection or interaction as noted hereinbefore
cally, a version of the electrodeless source illustrated in in the discussion of LC guides. Such synchronization
FIG. 49, operating at a low gas pressure, may be uti helps regulate the periodic rate of the output pulses
lized. The inert gas pressure in the system might be in obtained from the collector electrode 770.
the range of 10-3 torr, and would be in equilibrium 20 to The wave form generator of FIG. 59 can be operated
provide either positive or negative polarity pulses by
throughout the system.
Electron emission by EV propagation, utilizing any differentiation of the EV charge as the EV passes the
of the apparatus described herein, such as the gated slot 768 in the counterelectrode 766. A high impedance
electron source 740 illustrated in FIG. 58, may find load on the output of the collector electrode 770 pro
various applications. For example, various devices until 25 duces essentially negative pulses. However, a low load
now impractical for failure of the prior art to provide a impedance on the counterelectrode 770 results in the
cathode of sufficient emission intensity may now be production of first a negative pulse and then a positive
exploited using an EV-generated electron source such one. This pulse form is useful for generating positive
as disclosed herein. Such a class of devices as the wave forms used in driving field emission devices into
beamed deflection, free electron device, for example, 30 theof
emitting state, as an example of but one application
the use of EV's to generate electromagnetic energy.
may be provided utilizing a gated electron source of the 25. Channel Sources
type illustrated in FIG. 58, or example. Referring now to FIG. 62, there is illustrated an alter
24. RF Source
Passage of EV's through the LC guides of FIGS. 20 native source for generating EV's, one which is some
and 21 generates RF fields within the guides, but the 35 times referred to hereinafter as a channel source. The
interaction with such fields is utilized to guide the EV's, channel source 900 includes a ceramic base 901 having
and not to exploit external radiation. However, RF aresistor cathode 902 in a guide channel 903. A distributed
904 underlies the channel 903, the resistor hav
generated by passage of an EV can be coupled out of an ing its beginning edge contiguous with the cathode 902.
EV guide and made available for external application. A plurality of dynodes 905, only two of which are illus
FIG. 59 illustrates a general form of an RF source, or
generator, shown generally at 760. A dielectric base 762 trated, successively underlie the channel 903. A coun
featuring an elongate guide groove 764 provides a guide terelectrode 906 is located further along the channel
structure for EV's entering the groove, as indicated by 901.903, but is located on the underside of the ceramic base
the arrow K. A counterelectrode 766, which may be sourceFIG. 900.
63 illustrates an end view of the channel
A ceramic cover 907, not illustrated in FIG.
positioned on the underside of the dielectric base 762, 45 62, can be used if desired. FIG. 64 illustrates a typical
features a series of slots 768. The RF production in voltage profile for the channel source 900, going from
volves a charge induced field on the counterelectrode the negative voltage on the cathode, to the progres
766. The results are intense if the counterellectrode is in
slotted form. A second electrode, in the form of a col sively more positive voltages applied to the dynodes
lector, 770 is positioned below the counterelectrode 50 905 and finally to the counterelectrode 906, identified in
766, and separated therefrom by a dielectric. This latter the profile as the anode. The counterelectrode 906 ex
dielectric may be space, or a layer of dielectric material tends under the dynodes 905 to increase capacity.
(not shown). The collector 770 features a series of arms, beInappreciated
the operation of the channel source 900, it should
that the initial source of electrons, illus
or extensions, 772, with one such extension positioned 55 trated as a cathode 902, is conventional, and can be any
directly below each of the counterelectrode slots 768.
As EV's move along the guide channel 764, the coun known source of electrons or photons. Any useful appli
terelectrode slots 768 provide openings for the charge cation of the channel source preferably commences
of the EV's to couple to the collector 770 wherein the with an easily controllable process. This can be done
RF field is produced. The RF energy can be tapped most easily at the input of the distributed electron multi
from the collector 770 by any appropriate circuit, or plier as only a few electrons or photons of sufficient
further radiation system. energy are needed to get over the noise level of the
There is a reciprocal relationship between the EV device. These input events can be turned on and intro
velocity along the guide channel 764 and the output duced into the input by any number of known pro
cavities 768, in conjunction with the collector electrode whetherThe
cesses. gain of the input electron multiplier,
arms 772, that determines the frequency of the radiation should notdistributed or discrete elements are used,
be so high as to amplify single electron or
provided. The frequency produced is equal to the speed
of the EV multiplied by the inverse of the spacing be photon events to the EV triggering threshold level;
tween the slots 768. otherwise, false EV generation will occur.
 5,018, 180 56
55
Following the initial input of electrons or photons, The initial phase of the EV generation process uses
the high gain portion of the electron multiplier, illus the familiar ramming phenomenon, sometimes, referred
trated as the resistor material region 904 around the to as a Raudorf ram, having the ability to accelerate
electrons from 15 KV to 15 MEV. When a sufficiently
guide between the cathode and the first dynode, is
charged with the task of increasing the number of elec high charge density has been reached, either by direct
trons from the initial few to some very high number. electron emission from the solid walls of the guide and
Typically, the gain of such a multiplier channel is in the dynodes or by electron wave phenomena, EV's are
range of over one million. This value is often chosen formed and proceed along the multiplier section into
because it is sufficient to provide adequate sensitivity so whatever guide one chooses to use.
as not to over burden the input triggering system and 10 The foregoing description of the operation of the
also low enough riot to produce spurious noise bursts. channel source is premised upon the discovery that an
This gain is most often controlled by the value of the region EV can be formed by raising the electron density of a
voltage applied to the input distributed dynode section of space to the EV formation level through the
of the multiplier. Geometric factors play an important use of secondary emission from nearby sources, coupled
partin providing the gain of the input multiplier section. 15 with the accompanying electron ram effect. A closed
Uniformity of the voltage gradient in the channel is channel shape of dielectric material, for electron con
very important to obtain, as is having an adequate sec tainment, coated with a resistance material to distribute
ondary electron emission coefficient on the walls of the potential and provide a field-gradient for electrons, is a
channel. Once these factors have been provided, the principal element of the channel source. It is necessary
only function of the input section is to build up the level to have sufficient energy storage in the channel, prefer
of electron density to near the saturation level for this ably in the form of distributed capacity to a fixed poten
type of electron multiplier whereby no further increase tial electrode, to supply the peak current demanded by
in electron density can occur due to the limited energy the EV formation process; otherwise, saturation can set
storage of the distributed elements. This limited charge in and prevent the formation of an EV. A very suitable
density is then handed off to the second section of the 25 material for the dielectric material is tungsten-doped
electron multiplier whereby the charge density can be aluminum oxide.
further increased. It should be appreciated that the channel source typi
The second section of electron multiplier is adapted cally has a need to have a field alongside the channel
to film technology and reduced to the size of both the that can be rapidly regenerated after the formation of an
EV guide following and to the distributed channel elec 30 EV. This charge regeneration could be provided by the
tron multiplier feeding the input. . use of a resistor chain connected to a power supply (not
It is the function of this channel source to raise the illustrated). The power drain due to such resistor chain
charge density to the critical level for forming an EV. would be quite high when the resistance value is low
The prime requirement for doing this is to have suffi enough to form an EV, thus creating a severe heat
cient stored electrical energy available to the passing 35 buildup in the source. This would dictate the use of a
charge cloud to allow the charge density to increase to satisfactory refractory material, such as the tungsten
the EV threshold formation level. Since the charge doped aluminum oxide. However, by using fixed poten
density is sufficiently high before this threshold level is tials to the lumped dynodes (instead of the resistor
reached to present a severe space charge saturation chain), the heat problem is further alleviated.
effect, the field intensity along the multiplier guide must If preferred, a gas can be used in the channel source,
be adequate to overcome this space charge. thus increasing the efficiency of electron generation and
Both the need for increased field intensity and in to aid in removing the charge from the walls of the
creased energy storage level operate in the same direc channel. Moreover, by using gas, a high value of chan
tion and dictate designs that stress the dielectric mate nel resistance can be used.
rial in the high charge density region of the multiplier. 45 26. Circulators and Wigglers
In FIG. 62 the discrete dynodes 905 represent any num Referring now to FIG. 65, there is illustrated an LC
ber of dynodes required to raise the charge density to guide structure 950 bent in a circle to depict a circulator
the appropriate level. In addition to the dynodes, the for EV's. The EV's are injected into the closed loop
additional electrode 906 serves the function of increas circulator 950 through the feed and exit line 952. Cou
ing the capacity and energy storage of the dynodes 50 pled to the feed and exit line 952 are a pair of switch
without being connected directly to them. The dynodes points 954 and 956, both of which are electrodes. The
905 are thus connected to a source of positive voltage switch points 954 and 956 are nothing more than iso
via a voltage divider (not illustrated) that produces the lated parts of the LC guides herein described, with the
most desirable voltage gradient, illustrated in FIG. 64. isolation being obtained through the use of inductive or
This voltage gradient serves to pull the electrons 55 resistive elements. By applying appropriate voltages
through the channel increasing the charge and charge from the power supply 958 through the conductors 960
density as they go. To maintain this voltage gradient in and 962 to the switch points 954 and 956, respectively,
the presence of the metallic dynodes it is essential that the injected EV is deflected 90' into the circulator path.
the dynodes be very narrow in the direction of electron In a similar manner, for extraction, appropriate voltages
travel. A dimension of about one channel width or 20 are applied to the circulating EV, causing it to again be
micrometers represents a reasonable maximum. It is not deflected 90' and thus be once again in the feed and exit
essential for the electrons to actually strike either the line 952. FIG. 66, a cross-sectional view of the circula
dynodes 905 or the counterelectrode 906. These elec tor 950 taken along the lines 66-66 of FIG. 65, illus
trodes can be covered with a thin dielectric material trates the LC guide structure in greater detail. The LC
having a high secondary emission ratio provided the 65 guide structure includes a ceramic substrate 970 and a
material is doped with metal to increase the conductiv lower RF shield 972, as well as an upper RF shield 974.
ity. An aluminum oxide film material doped with tung A circulating EV 976 is illustrated as being centered
sten or molybdenum is a good choice. within the interior of the LC guide, surrounded by a
 5,018, 180 58
57 system can be used, coupled with the guiding action of
center guide electrode 978, as well as an upper guide the LC guide. With such a synchronization, the mean
electrode 980 and a lower guide electrode 982. velocity of an EV chain is locked into the frequency in
In the operation of the circulator illustrated in FIGS. the LC guide, such that the spacing of the individual
65 and 66, it should be appreciated that the photon EV's is forced to fall into synchronization with the slot
generation and subsequent radiation produced by this period of the guide. This effect is caused by the periodic
method springs from the fact that a charge under accel field produced in the guide, and the ability of this field
eration radiates energy. The frequency of radiation is to bunch the EV train into that field by accelerating the
determined by the acceleration of the charge while the slow EV's and retarding the fast EV's. By so doing, a -
intensity varies with a large number of factors related to O plurality of such circulators can be accurately phase
the geometry of the radiation source and number of locked to a master source of stable radiation energy. By
charges involved. Thus a radiation source can be pro properly adjusting the phasing of an array of circulating
duced by a slowly moving charge in a small radius or a radiators, the radiation is easily shaped into tight pat
fast moving charge in a large radius. The time for com terns, steerable electrically over a wide angle from a
pleting one full circle defines the frequency of radiation. 15 simple flat plate containing such an array, all as is com
Furthermore, the radiation pattern from a circulating monly known in the field of phased array antennas.
charge is equivalent to two lines of charges oscillating Referring now to FIG. 67, there is illustrated an alter
in a sinusoidal manner with a phase angle of 90 degrees native embodiment of an RF generator 990. For pur
to each other. poses of illustration, the generator 990 is an RC guide,
As is described with respect to FIG. 66, there is illus elsewhere described herein, and having a guide channel
trated a lower RF shield 972 and an upper RF shield 20 993 having a dielectric base which is formed in a pattern
974. As long as both shields 972 and 974 are used, the of one-half circles. In addition to the one-half circles,
circulator 950 represents a storage mechanism for either other non-linear walls can be used to cause the EV to
energy or information. The principal difference be accelerate. When an EV is introduced at the entrance
tween the radiation of energy from circulation and the 25 991, and caused to pass through the RC guide at a con
storage of energy by circulation is in whether or not the stant velocity, then the radiation from this motion has a
circulation unit is effectively shielded at the radiation frequency of one period of the "wiggle" caused by the
frequency. Without shielding there is radiation and a
possibility of using it in some beneficial way. With turning of the guide. The predetermined number of
shielding there is no radiation external to the circulator between theorentry
oscillations wiggles in the RF generator 990, spaced
and the same device exchanges radiation between the length of the pulse of991radiation and exit 992, determines the
emitted. There is a mo
shield and the generator to produce storage of energy.
The efficiency of storage is a direct function of the tion of the effective radiation source, and those skilled
in the art will recognize the need to factor in this phase
shielding efficiency. motion in calculating the far-field radiation pattern of
Thus, by proper shielding, the radiation resulting such
from the circulating EV is maintained within the con such aa device.
35 Instead of using an RC guide to build
fines of the circulator. By removing the shield 974, slightly device, more
LC guides can also be used, but are
complex to manufacture.
either totally or through the use of windows in the By employing any number of a wide variety of pat
shield 974, the RF energy is radiated out from the circu terns with a constant velocity EV it is possible to per
lator 950.
Although the embodiment of FIG. 65 contemplates form many frequency chirping or frequency modula
the radiation coming "out of the paper", those skilled in be controlledThe
tion effects. harmonic content of the emission can
with the pattern shape. The amplitude of
the art will recognize that by use of appropriate win the emitted radiation can be varied from one region to
dows, the radiation can be beamed towards the center
point of the circulator, or alternatively, beamed out 45 another by varying the coupling coefficient from the
guide to the radiation space, by changing the amount of
wardly, i.e., in the same plane as the paper away from charge in the wiggler guide or by changing the ampli
the center point of the circulator. tude of the wiggler pattern and then making a corre
In addition to fundamental frequency radiators, there
is a class of harmonic radiators that depend upon circu sponding the same.
change in the EV velocity to keep the period
Various length pulses can be made by pro
lation of the charge at a lower speed and having this
charge excite a periodic structure that in turn is coupled 50 gressively
shorter
switching the EV from a long path length to
paths by using the deflection switch technique
to space for radiation at the frequency of the periodic
array. The method of radiation resulting from the em elsewhere described herein. It should also be clear that
bodiment illustrated in FIG. 65 is of this latter kind. By the emission pattern of the wiggler type of radiator can
be very effectively controlled by both shape of the
simply exposing the upper guide slots 955 of the LC 55 pattern and phasing of the EV's to dynamically produce
guide to the region of space to receive the radiation, the both pattern
output function is accomplished. For ease of illustra skilled in theshape art of
variations and beam scanning. Those
phased array antennas are, of course,
tion, there are eighteen such output slots 955 in FIG. 65,
although the number can be any number desired. The familiar with the resulting radiation patterns.
The circulators and the "wiggle" type of radiators
slots 955 are in the upper guide electrode 980, illustrated hereinabove described, fabricated using thin film tech
in FIG. 66. Through the use of eighteen slots, the 18th nology, are directly applicable to a wide range of colli
harmonic frequency of radiation is produced. If there sion avoidance and communications applications where
were seventy-two slots 955, the 72nd harmonic fre the generator array is directly exposed to the environ
quency would be produced. If there are no such slots, ment being radiated. For example, by using
the harmonic number is reduced to the fundamental of tors having a path length of one wavelength,EV and
circula
when
65
one circulation per cycle of radiation.
Assuming it to be desirable to circulate the EV's desired to have a frequency of 3 GHz (a wavelength of
within the circulator 950 at a precise rate, to thus main 10 cm), this entails the use of a circulator having a phys
tain an assigned frequency, a velocity synchronization ical dimension of 3 cm for light velocity circulation or
 5,018, 180 60
59
4.3 cm for 1/10 light velocity EV's. These radiators, toconductors for supplying potential to the electrodes
being about 0.12 inches in diameter, can be coupled to when the photoconductor is activated by EV passage.
synchronizers to stabilize the frequency of radiation, It is obvious that the EV must be in an optically excited
and can be placed in an array of thousands laid out on a state or the guide wall material must fluoresce with EV
plane substrate of only a few inches on a side. The direc passage to accomplish the desired result. A wide variety
tional pattern of the array, and consequently the direc of photoconductors may be used here, but diamond
tion the beam is steered, can be determined by the phas films are particularly desirable due to their sensitivity to
ing of the radiators. For a pulse system, they have to be UV emission and insensitivity to thermal emissions.
turned on at different times as well as phase controlled. There is also a dividing barrier 1008 shown between the
This is a coilipiex switching pattern for thousands of O two halves of the wide portion of the component,
sources, but it is within the ability of an EV switching whereby the EV traversing the channel from one end to
system to do this. Switching can be accomplished on a the other wiligo on one side or the other of the barrier.
separate substrate with capacity coupling between the With the configuration shown, there is a field set up
two plates being used for connection. across the deflectors connected to the photoconductors
27. Flat Panel Display S whenever an EV is deflected to one channel or the
Referring now to FIGS. 68-81, there is illustrated a other by application of voltage to the input deflection
flat panel display and various components used in such electrodes. This effect is provided by the activation of
a display, wherein each of such components involves the photoconductors when the EV is in the guide chan
either the generation, guidance or manipulation of nel and the conduction process connects the deflectors
EV's. Basic to the construction of such a flat panel 20 to the power supply momentarily. Photoconductors are
display is the deflection switch involved in FIG. 68, known to turn on within picoseconds of the applied
wherein the force diagram shows various states of sta radiation in devices called Auston switches and they
bility for an EV on surfaces and in grooves or guides. show low impedence. Upon passage of the EV the
The single edge with a counterelectrode is very stable photoconductor returns more slowly to the quiescent,
and generally the EV cannot be detached from such a 25 high resistance state. Memory of the event is stored
corner. This is even more true for the case of an EV in simply as a charge on the dielectric material. Refreshing
a tight guide. A wide guide with a counterellectrode is provided by passing an EV through the structure
presents an unstable case for the EV when it is initially often enough to make up for lost charge. Normally,
in the center of the guide. The case of interest for the updating by a very low EV firing rate can be used to
deflection switch operation is illustrated in the last line 30 refresh storage.
of FIG. 68 as being marginally stable with the narrow There is an interesting ancillary function available
counterelectrode shown. In practice, the counterelec using this photoconductive technique. The memory
trode is tapered to a point as the electrode enters the state of a particular cell in the display array can be
wide region of the guide, as is shown schematically in accessed from outside the display by optical illumina
FIG. 69. 35 tion of the cell. If this effect is used in conjunction with
FIG. 69 shows two different configurations for de a light producing display unit, there is an implied feed
flection switches. Although deflection switches are back from the phosphor light source and the gain of the
discussed herein before with respect to FIGS. 36-38, it process cannot be carried to high levels without danger
seems appropriate to again discuss deflection switches of instability. Nevertheless, this is a potentially useful
in a more generalized manner. The view on the left is 40 function for altering a stored state on a display. The
designed to have electrical output while the view on the principal means for increased stability would be by
right shows a single input and a double output for the using a violet light for the light gun doing the data
EV path. No electrical signal output is shown, although modification and a photoconductor sensitive to violet
this is also possible. The output would only be a sharp wavelengths.
pulse as the EV passed if the coupling was for ac only. 45 By changing the connections between the photocon
By moving the electrodes into the direct line of contact ductors and the deflectors in another cell, it is possible
with electrons emitted by the EV, the output can be to repeat information from one cell of the switch to
made to have a dc component and the charge can re another. If the potentials applied to the input cell are
main on the electrode until dispelled by leakage or an such as to deflect the EV to the left hand path, then the
other load. 50 left hand path is also taken in the second cell. By cascad
In both of the configurations shown in FIG. 69, the ing two such cells it is clear that whatever information
sensitivity of the switch, or the gain, is determined by is available at the input cell when the EV goes by is
the balance of the system to all forces that effect the conveyed to the second cell, either forward or back
passing EV. A careful balance can produce a high gain ward with respect to the direction of EV travel.
device. By purposely offsetting any parameter of the 55 Referring now to FIG. 71, there is illustrated, sche
deflection switch that tends to guide the EV to one matically, a diode activated storage device. The de
output or the other, a bias is established that must be scription of this device is very similar to the description
overcome by the input deflection electrodes. of the photo activated storage device. This device is
Referring now to FIG. 70, an EV guide is shown also based upon photon activation, but the process used
opening into a wider region that is bounded on the sides 60 can accommodate a much wider range of radiation
by deflection electrodes 1001 and 1002 and has a sym wavelengths, especially on the low frequency end of the
bolized, tapered counterelectrode 1003 under the entry spectrum, than can a photoconductor. The device dis
guide. This is the same as the deflection switch de cussed here is based upon obtaining the required poten
scribed earlier. The main difference in this device is the tials for the deflectors from the wideband disturbance
use of photoconductors 1004, 1005, 1006 and 1007 on 65 the EV produces upon entering the guide region near
opposite sides of the wide channel and a cross coupling the pickup electrodes.
between the photoconductors and the deflectors. A For this embodiment, the photoconductors have been
power supply connection is shown attached to the pho replaced with field emission diodes 1010, 1011, 1012 and
 5,018, 18O
61 62
1013, although any rectifiers can be used provided they In operation, this type of device depends upon the
have good high frequency response, an effective operat fact that an EV passing over an electrode will suppress
ing bias voltage and adequate inverse voltage. An oper most emitted electrons with the negative space charge
ating voltage in the range of 50 volts is required. Field field, thus allowing the electrode to charge negative. In
emission rectifiers are known to operate into the optical the drawing, when an EV passes down the left side of
wavelength band with good efficiency. They operate the switch and passes over the collector electrode 1016,
well at 50 volts and they compliment the construction both the collector and the deflector connected to it are
technology used in the fabrication of EV structures in charged negatively. In the opposite case when the EV
general. As in conventional circuit diagrams, the field passes down the right side of the switch the emitted
O electrons strike the collector from a greater distance
emitter cathode is shown as a pointed electrode and this and velocity, allowing secondary emission to occur and
signifies that it is the electrode that will be positive emit electrons that are collected by the positive elec
when all alternating current or RF field is impressed trode 1017 and thus charge the collector 1016 and de
upon the electrodes. Field emitters also have a thresh flector 1015 positive. The storage and propagation of
old voltage that must be attained before they emit elec 15 information is the same as in the previous cases.
trons. In this case, the external potentials that had been Referring now to FIG. 73, there is illustrated a pair of
used in the photo activated deflector can be removed switching devices 1020 and 1021, which allow the out
unless they are desirable as bias potentials. In any event, put on a storage device to be involved in an EV path
the diode electrodes shown in the drawing must be way change. The device 1020 is similar to the device
operated at RF ground. 20
illustrated in FIG. 72, but having two outputs, 1022 and
All other functions of this configuration are the same 1023, separated by the barrier 1024. The outputs can
as the photo activated storage device described earlier. also be taken from the electrodes. This device also con
If an EV enters the left hand path, the surge or distur tains an additional input deflector anode 1025, if needed.
bance creates a momentary alternating potential that is The device 1021 involves a configuration that is ame
changed into a dc potential on the deflector electrodes 25
nable to counting by two. The device 1021 includes a
and remains there until leakage or an unwanted distur deflection anode 1026 and another anode 1027 which
bance removes it. In all designs care must be taken to functions both as a deflection anode and a collector
prevent excessive EV noise in the deflection region; anode. With each successive passage of an EV, the state
otherwise, this noise signal can be fed into the diodes 30 of the electrodes change and the output paths, as well as
and produce a false state of storage. the potential, are alternated between the two available
Referring now to FIG. 72, there is illustrated a States.
charge activated storage device. As in the other Referring now to FIG. 74, there is illustrated a stor
switches the EV enters the narrow guide and is con age device 1030 which sets the state of storage with the
ducted into the expanded portion of the guide over the 35 passage of an EV. The device is basically a charge
tapered counterelectrode. The deflector electrode 1015 activated storage device with three inputs and two
is shown as both input and output for this storage de outputs. When an EV is directed into either of the two
vice. Of course another deflection electrode can be outboard inputs 1031 or 1032, it then proceeds down
added to insert an input or it's compliment into the that side of the device and sets whatever potential on
device. As in the other configurations, the storage is the collector and deflector that is appropriate. Testing
accomplished by using charge storage on the deflection or sampling of the previously stored state can be done
electrode 1015 and associated collector electrode 1016. by directing an EV into the center channel 1033. Re
Operation of this storage device depends upon the generation of the stored state is also accomplished by
electron emission from the EV itself or from nearby interrogating the state of storage.
structures that are excited by the passage of the EV. 45 A very useful function for storage devices in a flat
The simple collection of electrons will not produce all panel display is to employ them in a stepping register
of the effects needed, however. It is most beneficial to configuration. Such a configuration is shown in FIG. 75
have a process that produces a positive going voltage using charge activated devices, although any of the
on an electrode when an electron arrives at the elec storage devices herein described would do the job just
50 as well.
trode. Secondary electron emission is such a process The most noticeable feature of this device is that the
and many devices have been devised in the past using information flow is directed in the opposite direction to
the effect and they are well known in the literature. The the EV travel by means of back coupling the collector
efficiency of the secondary electron production is low, of one stage to the deflector on another stage of storage.
rarely being above 2%, but even with this low effi 55 Outputs are shown going to gates that will be used in
ciency the process is useful. A requirement for the pro the flat panel display device, although such outputs are
cess to work is that there be an electrode 1017 near the useful for a wide range of electronic functions. Data
switching electrode that remains positive relative to the input to such a line of stepping registers is applied to the
switching electrode in order to collect the secondary deflector 1040 of the first cell in the line or at the oppo
electrons. In addition, this electrode 1017 should be site end from where the EV is injected. Whenever an
somewhat shielded from the primary electrons. In our EV is injected into the system, the data stored is stepped
case this collector electrode 1017 can be located on a to the right one cell with each successive passage.
portion of the cover plate. This electrode 1017 is shown Referring now to FIG. 76, there is illustrated a block
schematically in the drawing with a + sign beside it diagram of a flat panel display which makes use of the
signifying a connection to a positive power supply. A 65 devices illustrated in FIGS. 68-75. Before describing
current limiting effect, such as inductance, should be the circuitry of FIG. 76 in detail, it should be appreci
provided in this power supply line to prevent excessive ated that the following Tables 1-4 are included to better
current being drawn when an EV passes close to it. understand the operation of the system.
 5,018, 180
63 64
TABLE l
PHYSICAL PARAMETERS
SIZE OF DISPLAY SCREEN. = 400 mm x 400 mm (16' x 16")
NUMBER OF ACTIVE LINES AND COLUMNS. 2,000 x 2,000
NUMBER OF PIXELS. 4,000,000
MAXIMUM PIXEL SIZE. 0.2 mm x 0.2 mm (200 micrometers sq.)
ENVELOPE IS EDGE SEALED GLASS SUPPORTED INTERNALLY BY LAYERS OF ACTIVE
EV COMPONENTS FABRICATED ON REGISTERED THIN METAL SHEETS.
THICKNESS OF DISPLAY IS DETERMINED BY PHYSICAL STRENGTH REQUIREMENTS OF
BETWEEN 1 AND 3 inn.
DIMENSIONAL STABILITY AND DISTORTION OF IMAGE IS LIMITED ONLY BY THERMAL
PROPERTIES OF GLASS PLATE.
NUMBER OF LEAD WIRE INTO VACUUM ENVELOPE EQUALS 6 MINIMUM TO 30 MAXIMUM,
dEPENDING UPON HOW MUCH OF THE SYNCHRONIZATION CIRCUITRY IS DONE WITHIN
THE ENVELOPE

TABLE 2
SYSTEM PARAMETERS
TRICOLOR SYSTEM USING PHOSPHORS FOR FULL COLOR. RANGE.
SEVEN BINARY LEVELS FOR SETTING OF EACH COLOR INTENSITY. (CONTRASTRATIO
RANGE = 127)
TOTAL PICTURE MEMORY ON SCREEN = 4,000,000 x 7 x 3 = 84 MEGA BITS = 10.5
MEGA BYTES.
VIDEO BANDWIDTH UPTO 100 MH.
FRAME RATE FROM OTO 1 KH (NOMINALLY 10 H.)
BRIGHTNESS FLICKEREFFECTS ESSENTIALLY ZERO DUE TO INTERNAL STORAGE.

TABLE 3
PHOSPHORSCREEN PARAMETERS
BRIGHTNESS CONTROL FROMZERO TO FULL PHOSPHORSATURATION BY USING PULSE
RATE CONTROL OF EVELECTRON SOURCE. (OTO i0,000 fl)
MEAN PHOSPHORCURRENTAT 100% DUTY FACTOR - 200 MICROAMPERES
PHOSPHORACCELERATING VOLTAGE = 10 kw,
POWER TO PHOSPHORSCREEN - 2 WATS.
ELECTRONIC CHARGES REQUIRED PER LINE = 2 x 10/1.6 x 10-9 = 1.25 x
10 chg/s/2,000 LINES = 6.3 x 10 chg./s/LINE.
ELECTRONIC CHARGES REQUIRED PER PIXEL = 6.3 x 10/2,000 = 3.2 x 108.
MEASURED CHARGES FROMA SINGLE EV PULSEAT A DISTANCE OF 7 min INTO A 0.05
mm DIAMETER HOLE = 10.
CALCULATED CHARGES INTO DISPLAY PIXELAT 0.7 mm DISTANCE = 109 FOR A
SINGLE EV PULSE.

TABLE 4
STORAGE ELEMENT PARAMETERS
CAPACITY OF STORAGE ELEMENT = 105 F.
CHARGE AND VOLTAGE ON STORAGE ELEMENT = 6 x 155 ELECTRONS FOR 100 VOLTS.
CURRENT FLOW UPON SWITCHNG ALL STORAGE ELEMENTS (84 Mbits) AT 10 H.
RATE = 8.4 x 10' x 6 x 10' x 10 x 1.6 x 19-9 = 8 x 10-9 AMPERS.
POWER CONSUMED IN SWITCHING = 100 VOLTS x 8 x 10-3 AMPERES = 8 x 10-3
WATTS.
ELECTRONIC CHARGES REQUIRED PER LINE = 6 x 10' x 2,000 PIXELS = 1.2 x
109
EV TRANSIT TIME PER LINE FOR 500 VOLT VELOCITY. (1.3 x 109 cm/s or 0.04
c) = 31 NANOSECONDS.
EV TRANSIT TIME PER PIXEL - 6 PCOSCONDS.

Referring again to FIG. 76, it should be appreciated

that this circuit shows only one layer of the seven layer
system. Appropriate binary video is fed into the system 55 system switched by appropriate deflection switches as is
and an external synchronization system does the count shown in FIG. 79, covering line selection technique.
ing necessary to feed the various EV sources and line The individual gates on each line are responsible for
gate. Such counting can be done within the display pixel information content at whatever level of grey or
device although this specializes it for a particular infor color is appropriate.
mation format. External control of data allows a much FIG. 77 shows an end view of one of the data lines.
wider variety of information formats to be used. The The open channel EV guide that serves as the electron
data is shown progressing from left to right on a line and source to stimulate the phosphor is shown on the lower
each line is shown feeding from top to bottom. plate 1050. There are seven separate metal plates above
The brightness control used in this system varies the this level, each carrying stepping registers that treat the
frequency of firing of the main EV lines that are used to 65 appropriate contrast level for one of the desired pri
generate electrons for the phosphor screen. Any con mary colors. It is intended that these metal plates with
ceivable configuration of these sources can be used their associated dielectric materials be assembled in a
from one EV source per line to one source for the entire stack that is aligned with each other. Only two of these
 5,018, 18O 66
65 change this to an output code that satisfies the binary
plates are shown and they are not to scale. The gating data requirements of the stepping registers. This is a
action is controlled in much the same fashion as is the
conventional grid modulation of a single spot cathode form of look up table operation or ROM. Due to the
ray tube.
small size of the device, typically 3 mm overall for use
FIG. 78 is a top view of a section of gates showing 5 with the largest guides known to be useful in informa
the line of stepping registers that control the gates. An tion processing, the operating band width can be high.
EV run is shown under the gate region as well as tra It is expected that operation can be secured at several
versing the stepping register region. hundred megahertz. In the display device example
FIG. 79 shows the layout of the line selector that is under discussion, the firing frequency of the EV source
responsible for selecting and feeding EVs into the ap 10 would be expected to satisfy the Nyquist sampling crite
rion of 2.1 times the highest frequency in the analogue
propriate line of stepping registers. Biased deflection video information.
switches are shown and this is simply a switch that is
geometrically proportioned to send an EV straight blyAna field EV source 1072 is shown schematically, prefera
emission source to accommodate the high
forward unless a voltage is applied to the switch input pulse repetition rate, followed by a noise extractor 1074
from the line selector stepping register. The appropriate 5 to
frequencies for driving the various functions are shown accurately deflected inEVtheandfollowing
assure the quietest therefore one that is most
deflection fields.
and the waveform is a simple pulse with a width of the In the simplest case a noise extractor is just a good guide
basic binary video pulse. that gives the EV time to rearrange itself before being
28. LRC Guides
Referring now to FIGS. 80, 81 and 82, there is illus the extractor must be designed to absorb radiationcase,
20 emitted into an interaction space. In the extreme
in a
trated an LRC guide device 1060 which can be used particularly active band of frequencies that are known
with the flat panel display, but is not concerned directly to exist. This absorption technique is a common practice
with logic, and can be used in many other applications
in which it is desired to guide an EV. This device in 25 with low noise electron beam work. The end result
desired is easily shown by observing the response of the
volves an effect that is similar to an LRC circuit avail
able in what is otherwise a simple RC guide. This addi gion EV to deflection fields by watching the deflection re
tion greatly improves the recharge time constant of the ing portion with an electron camera. In this regard, the launch
RC guide without necessitating doping of the dielectric a picoscope.of the encoder is performing the function of
material. Stray charge is removed by using a thin metal 30 The exit of the noise extractor guide 1074 is termi
lic coating 1062 directly on the walls of the guide 1064.
This charge is conveyed to the end of the guide by the nated with a tapered counterelectrode on a flat plane.
Every precaution, such as tapering the exit of the guide,
high inductance path of the slender guide configuration, must be taken to prevent electric field surges from oc
thus preventing excessive charge drain upon the EV. curring in this region; otherwise, they will induce er
Termination of the conductive material at the end of the ratic motion on the EV path. A terminating resistor for
35
guide must also be done in an inductive fashion with the transmission
appropriate damping by a resistive component. This shown in the drawing. line driving the deflection plates is
resistive component is most conveniently done by mak The resistance of this material
ing a thin film of conductor on the guide. The thickness must not be too low or otherwise the EV will destroy
itself on the resistor. Following the deflector a region
of coating 1062 would optimally be in the range of 200 called
to 500 angstroms where good optical reflectance is that is expansion put in to
space is shown. This is just a region
allow a larger physical entry for the
obtained for the EV, but where the resistance along the selector guides that follow. The expansion space must
channel is moderately high. Aluminum and molybde have a charge dispelling coating applied to it, and it is
num are good classes of material for coating the guide. best to gradually taper the resistance, measured in ohms
This technique requires the coating of the cover plate 45 per square, from the low value in the
above an EV guide for most applications, but can be deflectors to a higher value in the regionregion of the
of the
expan
eliminated for applications requiring guides with an sion space.
open top for free electron emission. In the drawing the
guide is shown going off the end of the plate but the theAscomplexity many selector guides are required as is dictated by
of the encoding being done, although
charge collected on the guide walls is shown going to 50 there will be limits set by the effective "noise" or unpre
some ground path via a high inductance lead or film of dictability of the deflection system and EV path. Once
conductive material. The dimensions for the guide are the EV has entered the selector
somewhat inconsequential, because the effect of LRC a region that is responsible for guide, setting
it is conducted to
the potential on
charge removal scales to all size guides. the lines feeding binary video data to the stepping regis
29. Analogue to Digital Encoder
In regard to FIG. 76, there was an indication of a shown connected to these lines. This lineone
55 ters. For convenience in the drawing, only guide is
shows two
need for binary video data to drive the stepping regis
ters, although in discussing that circuitry, there was no different
here. It is
size bumps that symbolize the effect sought
necessary to set the potential of these output
means described to derive this data from the wideband
analogue video that is needed for a high resolution lines to either a 1 or a 0 state as defined by the voltage
display system. Moreover, with regard to FIG. 76, it on them. These are permanently assigned effects, and
was suggested that this conversion be done external to every guide,
time an EV goes through any one particular
the same voltage is set on the line. The setting is
the display device proper. It may be more appropriate similar to the
to do the job internally. Accordingly, the following 72. Basically, one discussed herein with respect to FIG.
to set a negative voltage the EV is simply
description of FIG. 83 is presented for using EV tech 65 run over the lead wire. To set a positive voltage, sec
nology to do the job. ondary electron emission is invoked.
The overall action of the analogue to digital encoder Although a wire is shown in the sketch, it is also
1070 is to take whatever analogue voltage that appears possible to use EV guides for the function of conveying
on the deflection plates, within their design limits, and
 5,018, 180
67 68
information to the binary video inputs if a path for sary to generate the EV. For example, in the case de
doing this is available. In such a case a device similar to scribed in Section 19, with an input pulse of 1 kV
that illustrated in FIG.74 would be used at the junction through the input resistor 568 of 1500 ohms, and an
between the selector guides and the binary video guide. output pulse of 2 kv through the helix 564 having an
If a path is not available due to having the stepping impedance of 200 ohms, the ratio of the output peak
registers located on separate substrates or layers, wire power to the input peak power is 20,000-667=30. This
are the obvious choice. result must be multiplied by the ratio of the width of the
30. Crossed Guides output pulse to the input pulse width, which was given
FIGS. 84 and 85 illustrate a phenomenon in dealing as 16 ns-i-600 ns = 0.027. The resulting corrected energy
with EV's that is not available when using conventional 10 conversion factor is 0.027X30=0.81. However, not all
wiring methods. A ceramic substrate 1100 has a pair of of the input energy is used in generating the EV. A
intersecting guide channels 1101 and 1102, such chan portion of the input energy is lost to excitation of the
nels typically being arranged at 90' with respect to each gas in the traveling wave tube, for example.
other. As illustrated in FIG. 83, the guide channel 1101 Under preferred conditions, the gas pressure is re
has a counterelectrode 1103 running underneath, while S duced to the lowest value that will sustain the EV gen
the guide channel 1102 has a counterelectrode 1104, eration in the tube, or envelope, at the same time losing
with an insulator 1105 separating the counterelectrodes the trailing portion of the output pulse as discussed
1103 and 1104. The insulator 1105 is considered to be above. The EV is formed during a brief portion early in
optional, and will not be needed in most applications. the time of the input pulse, and this fact is reflected in a
With some circuits, the channels 1101 and 1102 can use brief, sharp shoulder in the vicinity of the leading edge
a common counterelectrode. I have found that it is of the negative input pulse. Consequently, with reduced
possible to cross EV guides, under certain conditions, gas pressure in the traveling wave tube, the length of
typically at 90', without the effect of "shorting" that the input pulse may be reduced while still providing a
would occur in wired circuits. Of course timing consid 16 ns long output pulse. With the input pulse length
erations must be observed to prevent actual collision of 25 reduced to 5 ns, for example, the corrected energy
EVs at the intersection. In most EV logic circuits it is conversion factor becomes (16--5)--30=96. That is to
expected that the occupancy of the guide is very low, say, with the input pulse length reduced as noted, en
largely due to the high power of the EV and the small ergy available at the output of the helix of the traveling
need to have a high occupancy. In certain special cases wave tube is ninety-six times the energy input to the
it may be necessary to consider what kind of spurious 30 traveling wave tube, in addition to the energy con
waves are launched down the side branches of the sumed within the traveling wave tube and the energy
crossings and take preventive measures against them. available in the form of collected particles at the collec
31. Energy Converters tor electrode.
From the discussion above regarding traveling wave Even a greater energy conversion factor is available
circuits, it is clear that electrical energy may be ob 35 if the input pulse is further reduced; an EV may be
tained from an EV utilizing, for example, a traveling generated with an input pulse as short as 103 ns. The
wave tube as illustrated in FIG.50, or a planar traveling EV is a mechanism for tapping a source of energy and
wave circuit as shown in FIG. 51. Energy from the EV providing that energy for conversion to usable electri
is obtainable in the form of an electromagnetic pulse cal form.
output from the traveling wave tube wire helix 564 or As discussed above, a traveling wave device may be
the planar circuit serpentine 588. This output signal is, operated to output more electrical energy than is sup
in general, in the form of a negative pulse whose wave plied by the pulse source to the device to initiate an EV
form is a function of the gas pressure. For minimal gas and cause it to propagate along the traveling wave
pressure, a relatively sharp negative pulse with no trail output conductor. Energy conversion to dc electrical
ing portion is obtainable. Repeated EV propagation 45 output occurs when electrons are freed during passage
along the traveling wave conductor 564 or 588 results in of an EV along an RC guide, for example, as well as
a traveling wave output whose long term voltage aver when an EV and/or EV-liberated electrons are cap
age is zero; the traveling wave output is therefore ac. tured at a counterelectrode, for example.
Energy is also obtainable at the collector electrode 556 An EV is formed when the concentration of electrons
or 586 when the EV strikes the electrode in question. 50 reaches a threshold, that is, when the charge density is
Additionally, electrons emitted by the EV as well as sufficiently high. Then, the charges into the single EV
electrons that may have been excited out of the environ entity. Once the electron cluster has been so formed
ment, such as out of the guide material of the planar into an EV, the EV entity is apparently held together. I
circuit, for example, may reach the collector electrode. believe a large portion of the electron charges con
Further, if the EV is terminated within the traveling 55 tained within an EV are masked, so that I believe the
wave or the guide channel prior to reaching the elec EV does not manifest to external measuring devices a
trode, resulting electrons from the EV may be gathered charge size equal to the total charge contained within
at the collector. And, in any event, the passage of an EV the EV.
along the traveling wave tube or the planar traveling As an EV moves through or across a medium, the EV
wave device results in sudden accumulation of negative interacts with its environment. For example, an EV
charge yielding dc output at the respective collector moving across a solid surface, such as propagating
electrode, and the corresponding energy may be either along an RC guide, can cause photo, field, secondary or
dissipated or channeled to a useful application. thermionic emission of electrons. At least some of these
The amount of energy that may be obtained from an produced electrons may be absorbed by the EV, which
EV moving along a traveling wave device is dependent 65 may also be emitting electrons. An EV interacting with
on the several parameters as described in Section. 19. a gaseous medium causes exitation of the gas molecules
Under preferred conditions, considerably more energy to produce streamers as discussed above. A moving EV
is output from the traveling wave device than is neces thus appears to be in an excited state, with continual
 5,018, 180 70
69
interaction with nearby matter. The EV is in an unstable A planar traveling wave circuit complete with a driv
state and must generate electrons from its surroundings ing source operated by a triggering source is shown
to absorb to retain that state. The EV may exist in an generally at 1120 in FIG. 86. The driver, shown gener
equilibrium state, even as electrons are absorbed. ally at 1122, provides EV's for passage along the stand
The emission of electrons by an EV may contribute ing wave unit, shown generally at 1124. The triggering
to its propagation or propulsion. The EV may be pro source, shown generally at 1126, provides EV's for
pelled by its repulsion by electrons which the EV itself operating the driver 1122, as discussed hereinafter.
has caused to be produced from the surroundings as The three elements 1122-1126 may be constructed
well as electrons the EV emits. Streamers are an indica utilizing an integrated dielectric base 1128. A single
tion of an optical mode of propulsion of EV's. An EV O guide channel 1130 extends the length of the driver
which is not interacting with its surroundings, nor emit section 1122 and the length of the traveling wave ser
ting electrons that may be detected, yields no visible pentine section 1128. The guide channel 1130 contains a
light and, therefore, its behavior cannot be observed cathode 1132 at the driver end of the mechanism, and a
optically. An EV in such a condition is referred to as a collector electrode, or anode, 1134, at the opposite end
black EV. 15 of the groove. A serpentine conductor 1136 lies within
Formation of an EV is a containment process in the dielectric base 1128 along the groove 1130 in the
which the time average of alternating forces acting on traveling wave portion of the apparatus, and periodi
the electrons drives them toward the region of weaker cally crosses the groove. A counterelectrode 1138 is
high frequency fields at the center of the container. positioned on the bottom of the dielectric base 1128 for
Distortion of the container in optical frequencies, due 20 the full extent of the length of the serpentine conductor
perhaps to the interaction of the EV with surrounding 1136 and beyond. The positioning of the serpentine
material, causes the EV to be propelled forward in the conductor 1136 and the counterelectrode 1138 relative
direction of the emitted optical radiation, which ionizes to the channel 1130 may be more fully appreciated by
matter in that direction, thus attracting the EV. An reference to FIG. 87, which also shows use of an op
other mode of propulsion mentioned above involves the 25 tional dielectric cover 1140 which may be positioned
emission of electrons from the EV, with the consequent against the top of the dielectric base 1128 to enclose the
repulsion of the EV from the emitted electrons resulting groove 1130. The cover 1140 may extend over the en
in separation of the EV from the electrons and therefore tire energy converting apparatus 1120 to cover the EV
propulsion of the EV. paths as further described hereinafter. In general, the
As an EV moves along a guide, or a traveling wave 30 traveling wave element 1124 of the energy conversion
device, the EV may be continually absorbing electrons apparatus 1120 may be constructed like the planar trav
and, at the same time, emitting electrons. Energy con eling wave circuit 580 illustrated in FIG. 51.
version may be occurring in either of these two pro While a variety of sources may be utilized to generate
cesses. Energy converted and output by means of an RF EV's to send along the channel 1130 for interaction
source, or a traveling wave tube, for example, in con 35 with the serpentine of conductor 1136, a field emission
junction with the emission of electrons from an EV, is a source 1122 is included herein. The generator 1122 is a
fission reaction. Energy conversion occurring in con multi-electrode source, featuring the cathode 1132,
junction with the introduction of electrons into an EV, which may be pointed, and the counterelectrode, or
or the formation of an EV, is a fusion process. An EV anode, 1138 extending under the serpentine conductor
passing along a traveling wave device, for example, 1136, as well as a control electrode 1142. The control
may be both absorbing and emitting electrons. In this electrode 1142 may be positioned on the underside of
way, the EV may be considered as being continually the dielectric base 1128, or embedded within the base. A
formed as it propagates. In any event, energy is pro leg of the control electrode 1142 extends around and
vided to the traveling wave output conductor, and the under the guide groove 1130 in a position between the
ultimate source of this energy appears to be the zero 45 end of the cathode 1132 and the beginning edge of the
point radiation of the vacuum continuum. counterelectrode 1138. It will be appreciated that the
Energy output realized from a traveling wave device construction of the generator 1122 is generally along
may be treated in a variety of ways. For example, the the lines of the multielectrode source illustrated in FIG.
energy output from such a device may be utilized in a 45 and, with the exception of lacking a feedback elec
given application as soon as the energy is obtained. By 50 trode, is also generally constructed like the field emis
contrast, the energy may be stored for later use, even sion source illustrated in FIG. 55. For pure field emis
after accumulation of a relatively large amount of en sion generation of an EV, the entire device 1120 is oper
ergy over a period of time. Additionally, two or more ated in vacuum, and none of the cathodes is wetted.
traveling wave devices may be operated in some tan A power source 1144 is provided between the
dem fashion whereby their outputs may be combined, 55 grounded counterelectrode 1138 and the cathode 1132
either for storage or for relatively direct use. Further, it as well as the control electrode 1142 to maintain a con
will be appreciated that each traveling wave device stant positive bias on the counterelectrode relative to
provides two outputs, one in the form of an ac pulse the other two electrodes. The field emission generator
signal obtained from the helical or serpentine conduc 1122 is operated by pulsing the cathode 1132 negatively
tor, and the other a dc output obtained from the collec with an EV from the secondary emission triggering
tion of the EV and/or electrons freed within the travel source 1126.
ing wave device. While both energy outputs may be An EV guide channel 1146 extends the length of the
utilized, the ac output is larger. triggering generator 1126 and the width of the driver
Although any type of traveling wave device may be generator 1122, intersecting the EV channel 1130. A
constructed in very small form to convert energy by 65 cathode 1148 is positioned in the end of the guide chan
way of EV's, microlithographic thin film techniques nel 1146 in the triggering source 1126, and a collector
may be used to advantage to construct multiple planar electrode 1150 may be positioned at the opposite end of
traveling wave circuits in integrated form. the groove 1146. A grounded counterelectrode 1152
 5,018,180
71 72
underlies the portion of the triggering generator 1126 pentine conductor 1136' exposed directly to the guide
away from the cathode 1148, but does not extend under channel 1130, passage of an EV along the guide channel
the drive generator 1122. The secondary emission may also result in electrons being collected directly on
source 1126 is also a multielectrode source, having addi the serpentine conductor, and therefore adding to the
tionally a gate 1154, extending to one side of the EV energy available at the output of the serpentine conduc
channel 1146 just beyond the end of the cathode 1148, tor, 1168 as indicated in FIG. 86. The electrons thus
and a plurality of anodes, or dynodes, 1156 (three are collected may come from the EV itself, and/or second
shown), also extending to the side of the EV channel. A ary emission from the walls of the EV guide channel
voltage gradient is applied across the plurality of dy 1130.
nodes 1156 by distributing the dynodes along a voltage 10 Although the EV's from the triggering source 1126
divider 1158, extending from the negative side of the may be collected at the electrode 1164, these EV's may
power source 1144 to the positive side of another con alternatively be dissipated by allowing them to pass
stant voltage source 1160, the opposite side of which is over a relatively rough surface, without guide walls.
connected to the triggering cathode 1148. The gate The EV from the drive source 1120 may also be dis
1154 is connected to the power source 1160 and the 15 posed of in a similar fashion. Such energy dissipation is
cathode 1148 through a resistor 1162. accompanied by the generation of heat in the surfaces
The triggering source 1126 is an electron multiplier, used to thus terminate the EV's. This thermal energy
operating similarly to the channel source illustrated in may be appropriately harnessed for practical applica
FIG. 62 to increase electron charge density to the tion.
threshold of producing an EV. The interior surface of 20 Yet another alternative for disposition of the EV's
the EV guide channel 1146, within the extent of the from the triggering source 1126 and/or from the driver
triggering source 1126, may be coated with resistive source 1122 is to use these EV's in subsequent traveling
material to obtain proper potential distribution and field wave energy conversion devices. For example, a bank
gradient to achieve the electron density gain. The dy of traveling wave circuits is shown schematically gener
nodes 1156 are very narrow in the direction of travel of 25 ally at 1170 in FIG. 89. A single dielectric base 1172 has
the electrons to obtain the desired voltage gradient in constructed thereon a plurality of traveling wave de
their presence. Typically, the dynodes 1156 should each vices 1174 complete with driver sources. The traveling
be no greater than the width of the guide channel 1146. wave devices 1174 are arranged physically mutually
The counterelectrode 1152 underlying the dynodes parallel, that is, with their EV guide channels 1176
1156 acts to increase their capacity and therefore their 30 mutually parallel across the dielectric base 1172. Each
energy storage. traveling wave assembly 1174 includes a driver source
Application of a negative pulse to the cathode 1148, cathode 1178 and a collector electrode 1180, positioned
which may be pointed, from an external source (not at the ends of the guide channel 1176 as shown in FIG.
shown) begins the process of producing an EV in the 86, for example. As illustrated in FIG. 89, the serpentine
multiplier source 1126. Initial gain of electrons is ef. 35 conductor 82 of each of the traveling wave devices is
fected in the high gain region preceding the leading positioned below the corresponding guide channel
edge of the counterelectrode 1152, wherein the gate 1176. At the output side of the dielectric base 1172, a
1154 is located. With the gate 1154 at a higher electric single conductor 1184 connects all of the collector elec
potential than the negatively pulsed cathode 1148, an trodes 1180. The output lead 1186 from each of the
electron charge density is formed and grows as it propa serpentine conductors 1182 extends through the face of
gates along the channel 1146, gaining electrons from the the dielectric base 1172 below the collector electrode
coated, or doped, wall material. Further multiplication output conductor 1184.
of the electron charge density is effected along the An EV guide channel 1188 extends from a single
dynodes 1156 until the EV formation threshold is at triggering source 1190 and crosses each of the traveling
tained. Then, the EV thus formed continues to propa 45 wave device channels 1176 at the driver cathode 1178.
gate along the guide channel 1146 into the driver source The triggering source 1190 has a cathode 1192 at one
1122 where the EV operates to effect a large, sharp, end of the dielectric base 1172, and a collector electrode
negative pulse on the driver cathode 1132. Such a fast 1194 is positioned at the opposite end of the base, both
pulse causes the field emission production of an EV at electrodes lying within the EV channel 1188. For pur
the cathode 1132 as discussed above. The EV from the 50 poses of clarity, details of the trigger source 1190 and of
triggering source 1126 continues on to the collector the driver sources are not shown in FIG. 89, which
electrode 1150, from which the resulting power surge sources may be of the types 1126 and 1122, respectively,
may be taken by a lead 1164. Similarly, the EV gener of FIG. 86.
ated by the driver source 1122 may be received at the Appropriate circuitry, as generally indicated in FIG.
collector electrode 1134, and its resulting power surge 55 86, may be applied to connect the various electrodes,
withdrawn by means of a lead 1166. The energy re dynodes and counterelectrodes (not shown). Generally,
ceived by the serpentine conductor 1136 due to the the driver cathodes 1178 may all be connected together,
passage of the EV along the guide channel 1130 is avail and a single counterelectrode (not shown) made to
able at a lead 1168. underlie the plurality of serpentine conductors 1182. A
FIG. 88 indicates a modified construction of the trav single EV generated by the triggering source 1190 will
eling wave device 1124 in which the serpentine conduc move along the crossing channel 1188, pulsing each of
tor 1136' is positioned on top of the dielectric base 1128 the driver cathodes 1178 in sequence, resulting in EV's
and therefore overlies the EV guide channel 1130. The generated and moving along each of the respective
counterelectrode 1138 is still positioned on the opposite traveling wave devices 1174. Thus, a surge of energy
side of the dielectric base 1128, and a dielectric cover 65 output will be available at each of the serpentine con
1140", constructed to receive, or cover, the serpentine ductor output leads 1186 in sequence. The output con
conductor 1130, is positioned over the dielectric base ductors 1186 may be tapped individually, or connected
1128", covering the guide channel 1130. With the ser together. In either event, the entire bank of traveling
 5,018, 180 74
73
wave devices 1170 may produce a sequence of energy Again, because of the microminiature dimensions of
pulses for each triggering EV generated by the source . the elements involved, a stack such as 1200 may typi
1190. Continual operation of the triggering source 1190, cally contain on the order of 1000 layers, or banks, of
then, will produce a virtually continuous energy pulse traveling wave devices in a vertical thickness of approx
output from the bank 1170. 5 imately one inch. Consequently, such a stack 1200 may
In addition to the serpentine conductor outputs at the contain a million traveling wave devices 1204 within
leads 1186, the bank 1170 provides power output at the approximately one cubic inch of volume.
collector electrodes 1180, available on the conductor For even greater flexibility of operation of a bank or
1184. Also, as discussed above, the triggering EV's, stack of traveling wave devices, individual traveling
which are collected at the electrode 1194, also provide 10 wave devices may be operated independently, even
a power source which is available for tapping, or whose being provided with their own triggering source. FIG.
energy may be dissipated as discussed above. 91 shows, generally at 1220, a fragment of a traveling
Since the physical dimensions of a traveling wave wave device stack, including a dielectric base block
device may be very small, such that microlithographic 1222 in which is arrayed a plurality of traveling wave
techniques may be used to construct such a device, the 15 devices 1224. Details of the traveling wave circuits,
density of such traveling wave devices in the bank 1170 discernible from FIG. 86 for example, have been left out
may be relatively high. For example, on the order of of FIG. 91 for purposes of clarity.
one thousand traveling wave devices may be arranged Each traveling wave device 1224, at least in the top
as shown in FIG. 89 on a dielectric base 1192 which is layer illustrated, has an individual triggering source
only approximately one inch wide, that is, from the 20 1226. As illustrated, the guide channel 1228 from the
triggering source 1190 to the collector electrode 1194. triggering source 1226 is folded so that both of its ends
Similarly, the depth of the traveling wave circuits per intersect the end face of the dielectric block 1222. Thus,
mits the bank 1170 to be extremely thin. Such dimen the cathode 1230 of the triggering source 1226 may be
sional features then permit multiple banks to be stacked contacted at the same face of the dielectric block 1222
one on another or, a three-dimensional stack of travel 25 at which the triggering source collector electrode 1232
ing wave devices may be constructed in an integrated is positioned, with these two elements arranged on op
block dielectric base. Such a stack of traveling wave posite sides of the driver cathode 1234 for the individual
devices is shown generally at 2000 in FIG. 90, wherein traveling wave device 1224. The traveling wave device
some details of the traveling wave circuits are not collector electrodes 1236, as well as the serpentine con
shown for purposes of clarity. 30 ductor output leads 1238, may be tapped individually,
The stack 2000 is constructed with a single block or connected with those of other traveling wave de
dielectric base 2002. Generally, the stack 2000 may be vices in some selected arrangement. Similarly, the coun
considered to be a pile of banks such as 1170 in FIG. 89. terelectrodes (not shown) may be connected to a com
However, the construction of the stack 2000 may be mon ground, or treated individually. With independent
carried out with thin film techniques by producing the 35 triggering as provided by the arrangement of FIG.91, a
various layers in integrated fashion, as well as piling up bank, or stack, of traveling wave devices may be oper
already-constructed banks 1170. ated in a selected manner, producing output pulses in
Each layer of the stack 1200 includes an array of a varying phase relationships, and even combined in se
plurality of traveling wave devices 1204, but with a lected patterns.
single triggering source 1206 having a single cathode The assembling of multiple traveling wave devices in
1208 and a single collector electrode 1210. A single banks or stacks may be more compactly accomplished
conductor 1212 may join all of the collector electrodes utilizing planar devices, which may be constructed
1210 of the triggering sources of the various layers for using thin film techniques, as noted, as opposed to using
dissipation or other disposition of the EV energy col traveling wave tubes. However, a bank or stack of trav
lected by the electrodes 1210. In similar fashion, the 45 eling wave tubes may be constructed as well. Addition
triggering cathodes 1208 may be all connected together ally, either type of traveling wave device may be in
by a single conductor. The collector electrodes of each cluded in various circuits. For example, FIG. 92 shows
of the traveling wave devices 1204 in a single layer are a circuit, indicated generally at 1240, including a travel
shown connected together by a conductor 1214; all of ing wave device 1242 in symbol form, representing any
the layer conductors 1214 may also be joined together SO type traveling wave device, including a planar device
by a conductor (not shown). The serpentine conductors and a traveling wave tube. The traveling wave element
(not shown) have output leads 1216 in rows between the 1242 is illustrated in a circuit, indicated generally at
collector electrode conductors 1214. The serpentine 1240, featuring a feedback loop through a regulator
output conductors 1216 may similarly be connected 1244. The feedback loop taps some energy from the ac
together by layer, and even all of the serpentine con 55 energy output lead 1246 and returns energy to the input
ductor outputs in the block 1202 may be connected lead 1248 to produce a subsequent EV in the traveling
together. wave device 1242. With the circuit illustrated at 1240, a
With further circuitry adapted generally along the traveling wave device may be initially triggered to
lines indicated in FIG. 86, the triggering sources 1206 produce an EV and convert a larger energy output. A
may be operated in unison, or separately if the trigger 60 portion of that output, passing through the regulator
ing cathodes 1208 are not joined together. By selective 1244, is used to produce a subsequent EV for further
operation of the triggering sources 1206, and selected energy conversion. In this fashion, continued energy
arrangement of the output leads from the serpentine conversion is obtained with little or no additional en
conductor outputs 1216, the stack 1200 may be made to ergy input needed to maintain the process.
operate in a variety of fashions, yielding output pulses 65 FIG.93 illustrates another circuit, shown generally at
which may be combined in parallel or otherwise, with 1250, in which a plurality of traveling wave devices
pulses generated in various phase relationships among 1251 have their outputs combined. The output leads
the layers of traveling wave devices, for example. from the collector electrodes of the traveling wave
 5,018, 18O
75 76
devices are combined in parallel in a single lead 1254. form of a toroid, resides in an appropriate recess 1306
The ac energy outputs 1256, from the serpentine con also encircling the EV guide channel 1302. Formulation
ductors or helical coil conductors, of the traveling wave of the recess 1306, and construction and/or placement
devices are joined in a separate parallel arrangement. of the helical conductor 1304 may be facilitated by
Thus, the circuit 1250 may provide two combined en forming the dielectric base 1300 in two halves, as indi
ergy outputs, one from the direct contact of EV's and cated by the closed seam 1308. The recess 1306 may be
/or electrons at the collector electrodes, and the other a continuous cylindrical form, or may completely en
from the energy conversion process yielding relatively compass the helical conductor 1304, being a helix itself.
high energy pulses on the traveling wave conductors. The latter construction may be achieved by forming the
Yet another arrangement of output connections is O dielectric base 1300 by thin film techniques, for exam
shown in the circuit indicated generally as 1260 in FIG. ple. A counterelectrode 1310 is positioned on the bot
94. A plurality of traveling wave devices 1262 is ar tom surface of the dielectric base 1300.
ranged generally in series. The dc output obtained at the It will be appreciated from the foregoing discussion
collector electrode of a first traveling wave device 1262 that a traveling wave device may be constructed in a
is transmitted by an appropriate conductor 1264 to initi 15 variety of forms for the purpose of converting energy
ate EV production in a second traveling wave device, through the mechanism of an EV passing in the vicinity
whose collector electrode output is transmitted to yet of a traveling wave conductor. The EV itself, used to
another traveling wave device, etc. It will be appreci effect the energy conversion and collected on a collec
ated that additional biasing energy may need to be ap tor electrode, such as 1134, 1150, 1180, 1194, etc., pro
plied to the subsequent traveling wave devices in the vides another source of energy. As discussed in Section
series to ensure that an EV producing threshold is 7, propagation of an EV in an energy-absorbing gas may
achieved in each case. The high energy ac outputs 1266 produce streamers in the gas; energy from an EV used
are shown arranged in parallel in the circuit 1260 as an to trigger an EV source, or to drive a traveling wave
example. However, the ac outputs 1266 may be treated device, may be so consumed in a gas environment. As
in any selected fashion independent of the arrangement 25 noted above in this section, dissipation of an EV over a
of the collector electrode outputs. relatively rough surface, for example, is accompanied
The feature of repeatedly using an EV to convert by heat generation. A collected, or propagating, EV
energy may be embodied in a variation of the circulator may thus yield energy to a heat exchanger used to heat
discussed above. A traveling wave circulator is shown a fluid flow for example, or to a heat absorbing member
schematically generally at 1270 in FIG.95. A dielectric which also serves as a heat source. The thermal energy
base closed loop 1272 includes a traveling wave con obtained from an EV may then be directed to practical
ductor 1274, such as a serpentine conductor or a helix applications. Furthermore, an EV used to obtain energy
conductor as discussed above. EV's are injected into the on a traveling wave conductor may be used, directly or
closed loop 1272 from a feed and exit line 1276 by se by way of its dc pulse output, to generate a subsequent
lected application of deflector fields to switches 1278 35 EV either in the same or another traveling wave device,
and 1280 at the junction between the loop and the line. for example. An appropriate switching technique may
An EV thus introduced into the closed loop 1272 may be employed in the generation of the subsequent EV.
continue to circulate in the loop while energy is re For greater energy efficiency, just as a single EV may
ceived by the conductor 1274, and withdrawn by its end be used to trigger multiple EV generators, an EV may
output lead 1282. In this way, the same EV may make a be utilized for multiple energy conversions, such as by
plurality of trips about the closed loop 1272 until it is passing through two or more traveling wave devices, or
selectively withdrawn by operation of the switches also by passing through a closed loop circulator device
1278 and 1280, or until the EV terminates within the multiple times. Additionally, output energy of a travel
closed loop. Additional leads 1284 may be applied to tap ing wave device may be tapped to provide the energy
energy from the traveling wave conductor 1274 at vari 45 necessary to reach an EV producing threshold in the
ous locations other than at the end of the conductor. same traveling wave device through an appropriate
The actual construction of the circulator loop 1272 feedback loop. Multiple traveling wave devices may be
may take several forms. FIG. 96 illustrates one form formulated in integrated fashion, and operated individu
utilizing a flat, film type serpentine conductor. The ally or in selected patterns. In general, the energy out
dielectric closed loop base 1290 may be constructed SO puts of multiple traveling wave devices utilizing EV
using lithographic techniques as discussed above, and propagation may be combined in selected patterns.
includes an EV guide path 1292 over which is posi The foregoing disclosure and description of the in
tioned a serpentine conductor 1294. The serpentine vention is illustrative and explanatory thereof, and vari
conductor is separated from the guide channel 1292 by ous changes in the method steps as well as in the details
dielectric material. However, it will be appreciated that 55 of the illustrated apparatus may be made within the
the serpentine conductor 1294 may be exposed to the scope of the appended claims without departing from
interior of the channel 1292 and, therefore, the EV's the spirit of the invention.
circulating therewithin. A counterelectrode 1296 is What is claimed is:
positioned on the bottom of the dielectric base 1290, 1. An energy converter comprising a source of
opposite the side of the channel 1292 on which is posi charged particles; a solid dielectric body having a chan
tioned the conductor 1294. The serpentine conductor nel positioned to be responsive to the charged particles;
1294 may be positioned between the counterelectrode means for accelerating the charged particles in the
1296 and the EV channel 1292. channel; a slow wave electrical conductor capacitively
A helical traveling wave conductor may also be uti coupled to the channel and the changed particles; a
lized in a traveling wave circulator. FIG. 97 shows a counter-electrode capacitively coupled to the slow
circular closed loop dielectric base 1300 enclosing an wave electrical conductor, the channel and the electron
EV guide channel 1302 surrounded by a helical conduc bundle; means for biasing the slow wave conductor and
tor 1304. The helical conductor 1304, wrapped in the counter-electrode so that the charged particles propa
 5,018, 180 78
77
gate along and are guided by the channel and coupled 16. The energy converter of claim 1 wherein the
to (a) the solid dielectric body, (b) the slow wave elec channel is curved.
trical conductor and (c) the counter electrode so the 17. The energy converter of claim 1 wherein the
charged particles charge the dielectric and cause a 5 channel is configured to have a re-entrant path and
transfer of energy via the dielectric to the slow wave includes a common port for the charged particles enter
structure; the slow wave structure coupling energy ing and leaving the re-entrant path, the common port
being coupled to another channel having a junction
transferred to it via the dielectric to a load.
2. The energy converter of claim 1 wherein the with the common port so that the charged particles
Source and channel are in a vacuum. coupled between the another channel and the common
3. The energy converter of claim 2 wherein the O port via the junction are not tangent with respect to the
source comprises a field emission source. propagation direction of the particles in the re-entrant
4. The energy converter of claim 3, wherein the field path, and means for selectively deflecting the charged
emission source includes a first charged particle emit particles entering and leaving the common port from
ting electrode positioned to supply the charged parti 5 between the another channel and the re-entrant path.
cles to the channel, and means for supplying a field to 18. The energy converter of claim 1 wherein the slow
the first electrode to cause the first electrode to emit the wave conductor is planar with respect to the channel.
charged particles. 19. The energy converter of claim 1 wherein the slow
5. The energy converter of claim 4 wherein the field wave conductor is formed as a helix surrounding the
supplying means includes a second charged particle 20 channel.
emitting electrode, means for guiding particles emitted 20. The energy converter of claim 1 wherein the
by the second electrode into proximity with the first source and channel are in an atmosphere of a low pres
electrode so that the particles emitted by the second sure inert gas.
electrode establish said field. 21. The energy converter of claim 20 wherein the
6. The energy converter of claim 5 wherein the guid 25 source is an electrode wetted by a conductive sub
ing means includes another channel in a solid dielectric Stance.
body, the another channel being superposed with the 22. The energy converter of claim 21 wherein the
first electrode; and means for accelerating the charged electrode has a sharp point in proximity to the channel.
particles from the second electrode in the another chan 23. The energy converter of claim 22 wherein the
nel into proximity with the first electrode. 30 electrode of the source is at a voltage lower than the
7. The energy converter of claim 6 wherein a coun counter electrode.
ter-electrode is superimposed with the another elec 24. The energy converter of claim 1 wherein the
trode, further including a plurality of dynodes at differ source is an electrode wetted by a conductive sub
ent potentials along the length of the another channel. Stance.
8. The energy converter of claim 7 further including 25. The energy converter of claim 24 wherein the
a pulse source connected to the second electrode for 35 electrode has a sharp point in proximity to the channel.
activating the second charged particles. 26. The energy converter of claim 25 wherein the
9. The energy converter of claim 4 further including electrode of the source is at a voltage lower than the
a control electrode for the charged particles of the first counter electrode.
electrode, the control electrode being between the first 40 27. An energy converter comprising a source of dis
electrode and the slow wave structure. crete contained electrons in a bundle, a slow wave elec
10. The energy converter of claim 1 further including trical conductor, means positioned to be responsive to
N of the sources, N of the channels, and N of the slow the electron bundle for guiding the electron bundle
wave conductors, where N is an integer greater than relative to the slow wave conductor so energy is trans
one; each of the sources, channels and slow wave con 45 ferred from the electron bundle to the slow wave struc
ductors being respectively associated with each other ture, the electron bundle interacting with the means for
on a one-on-one basis and arranged with the solid di guiding so that plural discrete pulses of optical energy
electric body, the accelerating means and the counter are derived along the means for guiding in response to
electrode so that the charged particles propagating
along channel k cause a transfer of energy via the di SO asources,
single pulse of electrical energy being applied to the
electric to slow wave conductor, k, where k is selec ated witheach an
of the optical energy pulses being associ
electron bundle, the slow wave structure
tively every integer from 1 to N, and means for combin coupling energy transferred to it from the electron bun
ing the energy in the N slow wave conductors. dle to a load.
11. The energy converter of claim 10 wherein the 28. The energy converter of claim 27 wherein the
combining means combines residual energy, not trans 55 Source and guiding means are in a vacuum.
ferred to the slow wave conductor, in the N channels. 29. The energy converter of claim 28 wherein the
12. The energy converter of claim 10 wherein the source comprises a field emission source.
combining means combines residual energy, not trans 30. The energy converter of claim 27 further includ
ferred to the slow wave conductor, in the N channels ing N of the sources, N of the means for guiding, and N
with the energy in the N slow wave conductors. 60 of the slow wave conductors, where N is an integer
13. The energy converter of claim 1 further including greater than one; each of the sources, means for guiding
means for coupling energy derived from the slow wave and slow wave conductors being respectively associ
conductor back to the channel to provide a field for
controlling the charged particles propagating from the ated with each other on a one-on-one basis and arranged
so that the bundles propagating in guiding means k
source to the slow wave conductor.
14. The energy converter of claim 1 wherein the 65 cause where
a transfer of energy to slow wave conductor k,
k is selectively every integer from 1 to N, and
channel is surrounded by a solid dielectric.
15. The energy converter of claim 1 wherein the means for combining the energy in the N slow wave
conductors.
channel is substantially straight.
 5,018, 180 80
79
31. The energy converter of claim 30 wherein the each of the optical energy pulses being associated with
combining means combines residual energy, not trans an electron bundle; the slow wave structure coupling
ferred to the slow wave conductors, in the N guiding energy transferred to it via the dielectric to a load.
CaS 39. An energy converter comprising a source of
32. The energy converter of claim 30 wherein the 5 charged particles in a discrete contained bundle; a solid
combining means combines the energy in the N slow dielectric body having a channel positioned to be re
wave conductors with residual energy, not transferred sponsive to the charged particles; means for accelerat
to the slow wave conductors, in the N guiding means. ing the charged particles if the channel; a slow wave
33. The energy converter of claim 27 further includ electrical conductor capacitively coupled to the chan
ing means for coupling energy derived from the slow 10 nel and the charged particles; a counter-electrode ca
wave conductor back to the guiding means to provide a pacitively coupled to the slow wave electrical conduc
field for controlling the derivation of a bundle of dis tor, the channel and the electron bundle; means for
crete self-contained electrons from the source. biasing the slow wave conductor and counter-electrode
34. An energy converter method comprising launch so that the charged particles propagate along and are
ing a bundle of discrete contained electrons, guiding the 15 guided by the channel and coupled to (a) the solid di
bundle along a predetermined path, transferring energy electric body, (b) the slow wave electrical conductor
from the bundle while it is guided along the path to a and (c) the counter electrode so the charged particles
slow wave electrical conductor, and coupling energy charge the dielectric and cause a transfer of energy via
transferred to the slow wave conductor from the bundle the dielectric to the slow wave structure; the slow wave
to a load. 20
structure coupling energy transferred to it via the di
35. The method of claim 34 further comprising cou electric to a load.
pling residual energy in the bundle, not transferred to 40. The energy converter of claim 39 wherein the
the slow wave electrical conductor, to the load. charged particle source includes an electron source.
36. The method of claim 33 further including control 41. The energy converter of claim 39 wherein the
ling the flow of the bundles into the path prior to the 25
charged particle source is a source of predominantly
bundles being guided to the slow wave conductor in electrons.
response to energy transferred to the slow wave con 42. An energy converter comprising a source of
ductor from the bundles in the path. charged particles including electrons in plural discrete
37. The method of claim 36 wherein the bundle flow
is controlled by applying a field to a source of the bun contained bundles; a solid dielectric body having a
dles, the applied field causing a bundle to be launched channel positioned to be responsive to the charged
from the source along the path. particle bundles; means for accelerating the charged
38. An energy converter comprising a source of particle bundles in the channel; a slow wave electrical
charged particles in plural discrete contained bundles; a conductor capacitively coupled to the channel and the
solid dielectric body having a channel positioned to be 35 charged particle bundles; a counter-electrode capaci
responsive to the charged particle bundles; means for tively coupled to the slow wave electrical conductor,
accelerating the charged particle bundles in the chan the channel and the bundles; means for biasing the slow
nel; a slow wave electrical conductor capacitively cou wave conductor and counter-electrode so that and the
pled to the channel and the charged particle bundles; a charged particles bundles propagate along and are
counter-electrode capacitively coupled to the slow guided by the channel and coupled to (a) the solid di
wave electrical conductor, the channel and the bundles; electric body, (b) the slow wave electrical conductor
means for biasing the slow wave conductor and coun and (c) the counter electrode so the charged particle
ter-electrode so that the charged particle bundles prop bundles charge the dielectric and cause a transfer of
agate along and are guided by the channel and coupled energy via the dielectric to the slow wave structure; the
to (a) the solid dielectric body, (b) the slow wave elec 45 bundles interacting with the means for guiding so that
trical conductor and (c) the counter electrode so the plural discrete pulses of optical energy are derived
charged particle bundles charge the dielectric and cause along the channel in response to a single pulse of electri
a transfer of energy via the dielectric to the slow wave cal energy being applied to the sources, each of the
structure; the bundles interacting with the means for optical energy pulses being associated with an electron
guiding so that plural discrete pulses of optical energy 50 bundle; the slow wave structure coupling energy trans
are derived along the channel in response to a single ferred to it via the dielectric to a load.
k k
pulse of electrical energy being applied to the sources,

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