NL8800190A - DEVICE FOR PRODUCING AND MANIPULATING HIGH LOAD DENSITY. - Google Patents

Description

NL 34.811-dV / lb t ^ 4

Device for producing and manipulating a high charge density.

The present invention concerns the production, manipulation and operation of units with a high electric charge density. More particularly, the present invention relates to units with a high negative electric charge density generated by an electric discharge and which can be used for the transfer of electric energy.

Intense plasma discharges, high intensity electron beams and such phenomena have been the subject of various studies. Vacuum Arcs

Theory and Application "by JM Lafferty, John Wiley & Sons, 1980 provides a brief overview of the study of vacuum discharges, as well as detailed analyzes of various properties of vacuum arcs in general. The focus was on cathode spots and the erosion of cathodes used in the production of discharges, as well as on anode spots and the structure of the discharges. The structure of electron beams has been described in terms of vertebral filaments. Several investigators have obtained evidence from discharge structures from target damage studies of plate recordings, which are formed by the incidence of the discharge onto a flat plate placed in the electrical path of the discharge between the source and the anode A "pinhole" camera has also shown geometric structures, which locate dense sources of other radiations , such as X-rays and neutrons, that are associated with a plasma focus and related discharge symptoms. Examples of anomalous structure associated with a plasma environment are varied, such as lightning, especially spherical lightning, and sparks of any kind, including sparks from opening or closing relays at high voltage or at low voltage with high amperage.

The use of a dielectric element 35 to trap or conduct a high discharge current is known from charged particle beam studies propagating in the vicinity of a dielectric body.

In such studies, the entire particle flow from the source was passed along the dielectric conduction. Consequently, the behavior of the particle flow was determined by the properties of the total discharge. In this description, "total discharge" partly means the electrons, positive ions, negative ions, neutral particles, and photons, which are usually in an electric discharge. The properties of a particular discrete structure in the discharge do not clearly deviate from the average properties of the total discharge. In such studies, where a dielectric conduction is used, the conduction is used entirely for road restriction purposes. For the purposes of the present invention, dielectric guides are used to manipulate units of high charge density as opposed to total discharge.

The structure in plasma discharges determined by previous investigators may not reflect the same causal conditions or the same physical phenomena of interest for the present invention. Although the high charge density units of the present invention, if unknown, may be present in various discharges, the present invention describes an identification of the units, techniques for generating them, isolating and manipulating them, and fields of application for their use. The technology of the present invention at least partially defines a new technology with varied applications, including, but not limited to, performing very fast processes, energy transfer using miniaturized components, time analysis of other phenomena, and X-ray spot production.

The present invention includes a high charge density unit 35, which is a relatively discrete, negatively charged, high density material state, which can be produced by applying a strong electric field between a cathode and an anode. This unit is referred to here as electrum validum, abbreviated EV, abbreviated. 88 0 01 9 0 i * - 3 - derive from the Greek word "electron" for electric charge and the Latin word "valere", which denotes strength or strength and the ability to unite. As will be explained in more detail below, EVs also exist in a total electrical discharge.

The present invention includes discrete EVs, which include both individual EVs and EV "chains" described below. An object of the invention is to generate EVs within a discharge and to separate the EVs from the limited charge dispersed space charge produced thereby.

A further object of the invention is to manipulate EVs in time and space.

Yet another object is to isolate and manipulate EVs to obtain accurate relative time interval control and measurement.

In general, according to the invention, EVs can be produced using a generator, such as a vacuum or gas diode, without, however, limiting the invention thereto. In one embodiment of such a generator, dielectric material is interposed between an emitting cathode and a second electrode or anode, which is thus shielded from the cathode by the dielectric element, in order to avoid a direct cathode anode discharge.

However, the dielectric element provides a surface along which an EV can travel to the anode. Such a dielectric element may be constructed to determine conductors, such as channels or the like, to limit an EV to a particular path. A counter electrode may be below the desired path on the other side of the dielectric material to limit the EV to the path. Adding a gas at low pressure above the dielectric surface promotes the movement of the EV across the dielectric.

In another embodiment of the generator, a cylindrical-symmetrical cathode is separated from an anode by a slit, which may be exposed in vacuum or low pressure gas, within a dielectric enclosure. As a variant of such a structure, a cathode, .8800190-4-> mounted on the exterior of a conical dielectric element with an anode disposed therein, can produce an EV passing over a gap in vacuum or a gas at low pressure can be launched and attracted by a counter-electrode, which is carried on the outside of a tubular dielectric element, in which the EV is manipulated, as an embodiment of an EV launcher.

Various cathode structures are described, including cylindrical-symmetric as well as planar, and techniques for wetting the structures with conductive material for repairing erosion are also described.

A counter electrode, which is placed behind an acute angle dielectric construction approximately midway between a cathode and an anode in the case of a cylindrical-symmetrical generator or a generator for propagating EVs along a surface, can be used for separation of a desired EV of electrons and ions which may be present in the discharge with which the EV is formed. A similar construction makes it possible to select EVs from multiple EV production.

The dielectric conduction principles are further refined to provide devices which can also split EV paths, which even makes it possible to control the arrival time of EVs at certain points. Freeing an EV from a conducting path makes it possible, for example, to selectively adjust this path, so that, for example, an EV switching device is obtained.

The present invention relates to techniques for conducting EVs through inductive / capacitive effects, which are also used to generate high-frequency signals that occur when passing the EV. The production of visible light associated with the propagation of an EV in a gaseous environment is used to provide optical guides for the EV path to be tracked.

Since an EV represents a high concentration of electrical charge, its propagation to and .8800190 - 5 -

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for example, arrival at an electrode can be used to produce pulses with rapid rise and fall times. Such fast pulses have various applications, including producing a suitable potential pulse 5 on a cathode to achieve pure field emission production of EVs. A planar cathode generator is also provided for pure field emission production of EVs. Striking EVs at a suitable target can also be used to produce X-rays from a concentrated area of the target.

Electron emission from EV propagation can be used to produce controlled high-density electron emission for various applications. Furthermore, an 15 EV oscilloscope is described, through which a signal analysis can be performed using a deflecting field to influence the propagation of an EV, whereby the incident electron emission on a phosphor screen or the like can be detected before Studying for example the applied time-varying field. Furthermore, an electron camera has been described for observing the behavior of EVs in applied deflecting fields or the like.

The present invention therefore provides the EVs themselves, as well as various techniques for generating, isolating, manipulating and exploiting EVs.

The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the drawing, in which different embodiments of the device according to the invention are shown.

Fig. 1 is a top view of an EV generator, provided with a witness plate for detecting the production of EVs; FIG. 2 is a side view of the EV generator of FIG. 1? Fig. 3 is a partly schematic cross-sectional side view of another embodiment of an EV generator? FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional side view of a wetted metal cathode, for example, for use in the EV generator of FIG. 3; FIG. 5 is a side view corresponding with FIG. 4 of another form of the wetted metal cathode; FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIGS. 4 and 5 of yet another embodiment of the wetted metal cathode; FIG. 7 is a side view of a cathode and 10 an anode on a dielectric substrate; FIG. 8 is a partial cross-sectional side view of a cylindrically symmetrical EV generator using a separator; FIG. 9 is a partial cross-sectional side view of a planar EV generator with a separator; FIG. 10 is a top plan view of the separator lid of FIG. 9; Fig. 11 is a top plan view of a planar RC-EV guide; FIG. 12 is an end view of the EV guide of FIG. 11 equipped with a lid; Fig. 13 is a top plan view of another embodiment of a planar RC-EV guide; FIG. 14 is an end view of the EV conductor of FIG. 13; Fig. 15 is a side cross-sectional view of cylindrical-symmetrical RC-EV guide; FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional side view 30 of another embodiment of a cylindrical-symmetrical RC-EV guide; Fig. 17 is a side view of an EV generator along with an EV conductor using a gas environment; Fig. 18 is an end view of the generator and guide of Fig. 17; Fig. 19 is a top plan view of an EV conduction system using optical reflectors; Fig. 20 is a perspective view in 8800190 -7-. ί ».

exploded state of an LC-EV conduction; Fig. 21 is an exploded perspective view of another embodiment of an LC-EV lead, Fig. 22 is a top view of another embodiment of an EV generator, the cathode being integral with a propagation area for the EVs within a conduction channel; FIG. 23 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the EV generator of FIG. 22 taken along line 23-23 of FIG.

22; FIG. 24 is an end view of the EV generator of FIGS. 22 and 23 equipped with a lid; FIG. 25 is a cross-sectional side view 15 of a cylindrical-symmetrical EV generator launcher; FIG. 26 is a partial cross-sectional side view of a cylindrical-symmetrical EV selector and a guide; Fig. 27 is a top plan view of a planar EV selector; FIG. 28 is an end view of the EV selector of FIG. 27; Fig. 29 is a top plan view of an EV splitter; FIG. 30 is an end view of the EV splitter of FIG. 29; Fig. 31 is a top view of another EV splitter; Fig. 32 is an end view of the EV split ser of Fig. 31, which is equipped with a lid; FIG. 33 is a top plan view of an EV time divider with variable time delay; FIG. 34 is a partial vertical cross-sectional view of a portion of the splitter of FIG. 33 taken along line 34-34 of FIG. 33; FIG. 35 is a top view of another embodiment of an EV time divider with variable time delay; Fig. 36 is a top plan view of an EV offset 8800190 A X-8 diffraction switch; FIG. 37 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the EV deflection switch of FIG. 36 taken along line 37-37 of FIG. 36; Fig. 38 is an end view of the deflection switch of Figs. 36 and 37; Fig. 39 is a top view of an EV oscilloscope; FIG. 40 is an end view of the EV Oscil-10 release scope of FIG. 39, which is equipped with a lid and illustrates the use of an optical magnifier with the oscilloscope; Fig. 41 is a side view, partially broken away, of an electron camera with an EV-15 source disposed therefor; FIG. 42 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the electron camera of FIG. 41 taken along line 42-42; FIG. 43 is a side view of a camera according to FIGS. 41 and 42 arranged for observing an EV oscilloscope and the lens system of a television camera arranged to detect the output of the electron camera; Fig. 44 schematically shows the use of multiple electron cameras for observing the behavior of EVs; Fig. 45 is a schematic isometric view of a planar EV multi-electrode generator; Fig. 46 is a top view of another planar multi-electrode generator; Fig. 47 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the EV multi-electrode generator of Fig. 46 taken along line 47-47; FIG. 48 is an end view of the multi-electrode generator of FIGS. 46 and 47; Fig. 49 is a cross-sectional side view of an "electrodeless" EV source; Fig. 50 is a partly schematic side view of a traveling corrugated tube using EVs; . 8 a 0 01 9 o - 9 - * Fig. 51 is a partly schematic top plan view of a planar running wave circuit, using EVs; FIG. 52 is a vertical cross section of a pulse generator using EVs; Fig. 53 is an end view of the pulse generator of Fig. 52; FIG. 54 is a partial cross-sectional side view of an EV generator with field emission, using the principles of the pulse generator of FIGS. 52 and 53; Fig. 55 is a plan view of a planar EV generator with field emission; Fig. 56 is a diagram for operating the EV emission field generator of Fig. 55; Fig. 57 is a partial cross-sectional side view of an X-ray generator using EVs; FIG. 58 is an isometric exploded view of a gated electron source using EVs; Fig. 59 is an isometric exploded view of a high-frequency source using EVs; Fig. 60 is a schematic representation of an EV; and Fig. 61 schematically depicts a chain of EVs.

1. Definition and certain EV properties 30

An EV is a discrete, self-contained, negatively charged electron beam. Although the shape of an EV is not yet entirely clear, it is believed that the independence of the particle is caused by electromagnetic fields that arise between the electrons within the beam, which opinion is based on the many observations of EV behavior. This property is quite unlike a conventional electron beam, where the bonding of the electrons is either a result of an external electrostatic field or an external magnetic field. As is well known in the art, electrons that are negatively charged tend to repel each other.

It should be noted that although the EV is a stand-alone beam of electrons, it is preferable to communicate with other objects or units, such as, for example, other EVs, dielectrics and electrodes, rather than being independent and tends to disintegrate for a while if there is nothing to connect to.

Main properties of an EV include its relatively small size (for example, on the order of 1 µm in the lateral direction, but can also be larger or smaller up to 0.1 µm) and a high uncompensated electron charge (ie, without positive ions or at least with an upper limit of one ion per 100,000 electron charges), usually on the order of 10 ^ electron charges. The minimum charge, g observed for an EV of one µm, is 10 electron charges. The charge density of an EV approximates the average density of a solid, i.e. on the order of 23 3 20 6.6 x 10 electron charges / cm, but without having neutralization of the space charge by ions or relativistic electron movement. The velocity achieved by an EV at applied fields (on the order of one tenth of the speed of light) indicates that the EV charge / mass ratio corresponds to that of an electron and deflection of EVs by fields of known polarity that EVs react as electrons, ie as negatively charged units.

As best determined at this time, the shape of an EV is likely to be approximately a sphere, but may also be toroidal and may have a fine structure. As schematically indicated in Fig. 60, an EV is represented as a central sphere 800 of self-contained electrons surrounded by an electromagnetic field 801. Coupling between EVs yields quasi-stable structures. Lonely EVs are rarely observed, however. EVs tend to bond, for example, as beads in a chain, as shown schematically in Fig. 61, where the EV beads in the chain may be slightly free to rotate or rotate .5800190 - π - t under the influence of external or internal forces. It can be seen that the closed chains form annular structures with a diameter of up to 20 µm, and multiple chains can also unite and align with one another in a relatively ordered manner. At the chain 810 of FIG. 61, the ten EVs 812, 814, 816, 818, 820, 822, 824, 826, 828, and 830 are offset in an approximately circular pattern. The spacing of EV beads in a chain is usually approximately equal to the diameter of the individual 10 beads. The distance between one chainring and the other is of the order of a ring diameter. A one µm wide ring of ten EV beads, which is the usual number of 12 beads in a chain, can contain 10 electron charges. Individual EV beads can be seen within a chainring. An EV unit, which has the nature of a non-neutral electron plasma, is very strongly bound, with the bonding forces between EV beads in a chain being weaker and the bonding between beads of chains being the weakest. However, all bonding energies appear to be greater than chemical bonding energy of materials. Further EV properties are discussed below.

2. Generators

An EV can be generated at the end of an electrode to which a sufficiently large negative voltage is applied. Figures 1 and 2 show an EV generator 10, which includes an elongated rod cathode 12 with a neck portion 12a, which tapers to a point and faces down to an anode plate 14, which is separated from the cathode by an intermediate dielectric plate 16. As shown in the drawing, the anode or collector electrode 14 is maintained at a relatively positive voltage value, which may be ground, and a negative pulse of the order of 10 kV becomes applied to cathode 12 to generate an intense electric field 35 at the tip of the cathode, whereby the field-emission obtained at the cathode tip produces one or more EVs, usually in the vicinity of where the tip of the cathode cathode nears or touches the dielectric at A. The EVs are attracted to the anode 14 and move across the surface from the dielectric 16 to the anode, for example usually along a path indicated by the dashed line B as long as the dielectric surface unloaded. The propagation of one or more EVs over the dielectric surface can leave the surface locally charged. A subsequent EV will follow an erratic path across the surface unless the surface charge is first dispersed, as described in detail below. The insulating dielectric plate 16, which is preferably a high-quality dielectric, such as quartz, prevents direct discharge between cathode 12 and anode 14 and also provides a surface along which the EVs can move.

If desired, a witness plate 18 can be placed near the anode 14 to receive EVs from the cathode 12. The witness plate 18 can be constructed as a conductive foil, which undergoes visible damage upon impact by an EV. The witness plate 18 can therefore be used to detect the generation of EVs, 20 as well as to locate their impact points on the anode 14. Furthermore, an EV propagating across the dielectric surface will cause an optically visible stripe on the surface. . As will be discussed in more detail below, other components can be used in conjunction with generator 10 to further manipulate and / or exploit the EVs so generated.

The generator 10 may be placed within a suitable enclosure (not shown) and thereby optionally operate in vacuum or in a particular gas atmosphere. Generally, the components described herein can be placed within a suitable enclosure so that the atmosphere in which the components operate can be selected. Terminals or the like and gas transmission lines can be used to transfer electrical signals and a selected gas at desired pressure through the enclosure walls.

The 10 mm scale in Figure 1 is a normal size for EV generator components. Generally, when EVs are generated and manipulated in small numbers, they can be formed and guided by small structures. Even when large structures are used, an EV seeks and guides the smallest details of the total structures and works most actively with them, leaving the larger details untouched.

In the first approach, the generation and manipulation of individual EV beads can be realized with structures with a total size on the order of 10 μιη.

In general, very stable materials are desirable for use in the construction of structures for generating, manipulating and exploiting EVs, including refractory metals and dielectrics, that approximate the binding energy of an EV as closely as possible to maintain the structures . Certain dielectric materials, such as low melting point plastics, are less preferred than other materials, such as ceramics.

With any type of EV generator, where a DC voltage or a pulse signal is supplied to the cathode, it is necessary to complete the current path to a loop using an EV collecting electrode (except in the case of "electrodeless" sources, as discussed below).

Another embodiment of an EV generator is indicated by 20 in Fig. 3 and is provided with a cylindrical-symmetrical cathode 22, which has a conical end, which is directed towards and at a distance from an anode / collector electrode. 24, which is also cylindrical-symmetrical.

An operating circuit includes a load resistor 26 which connects the anode 24 to ground while a current limiting input resistor 28 is provided between the cathode 22 and an input terminal 30. The anode 24 is equipped with an output terminal 32 to which auxiliary equipment can be connected. For example, a detection device (not shown), such as an oscilloscope, can be connected to the system via terminal 32, allowing the influence of EVs on anode 35 to be registered.

An enclosure, such as a cylindrical glass tube 34, may be provided, allowing the environment in the space between the cathode 22 and the anode 24 to be controlled and maintained at vacuum or a selected gas pressure. . Tube 34 may be suitably sealed and include connection lines (not shown) with a vacuum pump and / or a gas source for determining the environment within the tube.

The cathode 22 can be driven by a negative pulse or a direct current of about 2 kV with respect to the anode. The length of the negative pulse can be varied from a few ns to DC voltage without greatly affecting the production of EVs. At long pulse length 10, the input resistor 28 should be selected to prevent sustained growth discharge within the glass tube.

-3

At high vacuum or low pressure, such as 10 torr, the discharge is easily quenched and the resistor 28 can be omitted, but in a higher pressure gas environment, a value of the resistor must be selected to match the gas pressure used to achieve the discharge. extinguish. For operation in both vacuum and gaseous environments and a pulse length of, for example, 0.1 μπι, a resistance value of 500 to 1500 ohms can be used.

In high vacuum operation of generator 20, the distance between cathode 22 and anode 24 should preferably be less than 1 mm for a 2 kV signal supplied to the cathode. When operating in a gas at a pressure of a few torr, the distance between the cathode 22 and the anode 24 can be increased to more than 60 cm, provided that a ground plane 36 adjacent to the gas tube is used, as shown in the drawing. . The mass plane 36 may extend partly around the tube 34 or even surround the tube. For certain applications, the glass tube 34 can be replaced with other EV conduction structures, as discussed below, and different circuits can be designed that take advantage of the different EV properties.

3. Cathodes 35 The cathodes, such as the above-mentioned cathodes 12 and 22, can be pointed in any suitable technique, such as grinding and polishing and even chemical etching, in order to obtain a sufficiently sharp point, so that a very strong field of the end of the. S30 0 1 90 - 15 -

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cathode can be concentrated. Since EVs are generated at the tip of such a metal electrode, the electrode material is scattered under normal conditions and the cathode tip or other cathode shape is destroyed by the energy dissipated herein and the voltage required to produce EVs increases. However, the cathode can be coupled to a source of liquid conductor, the tip of the electrode being regenerated in a very short time. Fig. 4 shows a metal electrode 40 wetted with a conductive substance 42 with which the cathode is coated, allowing the coating material to undergo surface migration to the pointed end of the electrode. The migrating material renews the tip of the electrode to maintain a sharp point, since the generation of EVs by the electrode can destroy the electrode tip. The surface tension of the coating material 42, its destruction at the tip and the electrical field generated at the cathode together support migration of the coating material to the tip.

In Fig. 5, an electrode 44 is surrounded by a tube 46, thereby defining an annular space 48 between the outer surface of the electrode and the inner surface of the tube. The gap 48 serves as a reservoir 25 for coating material 50, which is held in the gap by surface tension, but wets the cathode and migrates to the end of the cathode, forming a coating 52 there to maintain a suitably sharp cathode tip. The reservoir tube 46 is preferably non-conductive and consists, for example, of alumina ceramic to prevent undesired electron emission from the tube and undesired migration of the wetting material along the tube. On the other hand, a conductive tube can be used as long as it is not too close to the cathode tip, allowing the tube to emit electrons. The coating material 50 can generally be any metallic liquid, such as mercury, which migrates appropriately over an electrode 44 made of, for example, copper.

.8800190 x, - 16 -

Cathodes 40 and 44 of FIGS. 4 and 4, respectively. 5 are designed for EV emissions from a certain point.

In Fig. 6, a tubular cathode 54 is shown with a conical interior at one end, thereby obtaining a sharp circular edge or line 56 where EVs are generated. The cylindrical portion of the interior of the cathode 54 determines, by means of the surface tension, a reservoir of coating material 58 which wets the cathode and migrates along the conical interior surface 10 of the cathode to the emitting edge 56. The migrating material 58 therefore renews the circular rim 56, keeping it appropriately sharp for EV generation.

Generally, a source that can be re-ignited to produce EVs requires a migrating conductor on a conductive substrate, which has a field-enhancing shape. The sharp tip of a cathode, as shown in Fig. 4 or 5, can be further sharpened by the influence of the metallic coating applied thereto by wetting and being pulled out into a microscopic cone by the applied field. Likewise, the coating material at a tubular cathode, as shown in Fig. 6, is pulled towards the circular edge due to the field effects, thereby providing a particularly sharp edge with microscopic transmitting cones.

A variety of materials can be used to construct wetted cathodes. Usually, for operation at room temperature of an EV-30 generator, the cathode can be made of a tapered copper wire covered with mercury. Alternatively, mercury can be applied to silver or molybdenum.

Furthermore, gallium-indium alloys or tin-lead alloys can be used to coat a variety of substrate metals to form cathodes. Examples of cathodes for high temperature applications include aluminum coated titanium carbide for operation at 600 ° C and boron oxide glass coated tungsten for operation at about 900 ° C.

.8800190 - 17 - * *

Non-metallic conductive coatings can also be used. For example, coatings of glycerol doped with potassium iodide or sodium iodide and nitro-glycerol doped with nitric acid have been successfully used with a variety of metal substrates such as copper, nickel, tungsten and molybdenum. The glycerol is nitrated with an acid or doped to give some conductivity to the organic material. However, it is not necessary to use doping for conductivity if the coating material 10 is limited to a very thin layer. Polarization of such material is sufficient to cause the material to move in a field, thus pumping the material to a field-enhancing point.

It will be appreciated that operation of a humidified source, especially in a reduced pressure environment to even a vacuum, involves evaporating the humidifying material or producing gaseous products. The metal-wetting material therefore forms a vapor. Organic or inorganic gases can be obtained depending on the wetting agent. Field emission is accompanied by current through the cathode, which heats the cathode, causing the wetting material to evaporate. Electrons emitted by the field give and ionize the vapor particles. The resulting positive ion cloud further increases the field emission, causing an explosion-like breakdown process, which results in a high local electron density.

Variations of wetted cathodes can increase migration of the humidifying material, returning vaporized material to the source, keeping the field-producing structure sharp and / or contributing to a reduction in ionization time, enabling high pulse frequencies to produce EVs. In order to take advantage of the regeneration by wetting cathodes, the pulse frequency of the EV generation signal delivered to the cathode must be low enough to allow migration of the coating material to allow the point or line between pulses to recover. For elongated or line sources, such as the circular cathode 54 of FIG. 6, the pulse ..

.8800190 * t - 18 - frequency, however, are increased to much higher values than is practical for use with point sources, since complete regeneration of the line between two pulses by coating migration is not necessary. Part of the 5-line cathode is usually still sharp for subsequent EV production after the production of EVs elsewhere on the line.

Fig. 7 shows an EV generator 60 with a ceramic base 62, which includes a planar or surface cathode 64, which is placed on one surface of the base, and a planar anode or counter electrode 66, which is placed on the other surface of the base is placed approximately opposite the location of the cathode. The cathode 64, which consists of another elongated or linear source, may be coated with a metallic hydride, such as zircon hydride or titanium hydride, to produce EVs. Such a cathode remains effective provided that hydrogen is recycled to the hydride. This can be accomplished by operating the generator or source in a hydrogen atmosphere, so that the cathode operates in the thyratron mode, which is a known hydride regeneration technique. Since there is no current of wetting material on the cathode base material, the coating material spreads after a period of use and the source can no longer ignite. Consequently, the surface source 64 generally has a shorter life than cathodes on which migrating material is applied, as shown in Figures 4-6. Further details of the construction and operation of a surface generator, as shown in Fig. 7, are given below.

4. Separators In general, the production of EVs is associated with the formation of a plasma discharge, which includes ions and detached electrons, generally where the EVs are produced at the cathode, with the plasma charge 6 3 density is at least 10 electron charges per µm and usually 10 charges per µm. In the case of a relatively short distance between cathode and anode of a source, the high plasma density associated with the formation of the EVs is produced in the form of a local spark. When the .8600190 i * - 19 - distance between the cathode and the anode is increased, EV production and transmission are also associated with the formation of currents, ie excited gaseous ions along the path of an EV, which emit light at electron transition.

As noted above, an EV itself has an extremely high total charge density. Typically, a chain of ten EV beads, each bead having about a width of 12 ym, can hold 10 electron charges and, moving at about one tenth of the speed of light, can pass a point in -14 10 10 s, creating a high current density which can be easily distinguished from a normal electron current. In the case of a pulsed source, it can usually be expected that with each pulse delivered to the cathode, an EV is generated in addition to the unrelated charge production that may accompany the EV production.

The various components of the plasma discharge that are present when EVs are formed are considered impurities for the EV and are preferably removed from the EV propagation. Such removal can be achieved by enclosing the EV source in a separator, and placing an opening or small guide groove between the source and the extraction electrode or anode. A counter electrode is applied to the envelope for use in forming the EVs. The discharge impurities are retained within the separator, while the EVs can exit through the opening or groove to an extraction electrode.

An EV generator 70 is shown in FIG. 8 and includes a cylindrical-symmetrical tapered cathode 72, which may include, for example, mercury-wetted copper, and a plate anode 74, and is equipped with a cylindrical-symmetrical separator 76. The separator 76 comprises an approximately tubular element, which is preferably made of a dielectric, for example a ceramic material, such as aluminum oxide, which tapers beyond the tip of the cathode 72 over an area 78 with a conical outer surface and a conical inner surface with smaller cone angle, thereby forming an opening 80 defined by a relatively sharp circular aperture. 88 0 0 1 9 0, r - 20 - end of the tubular element. When a dielectric is used for the tunnel 76, a counter electrode 82 is formed on the exterior of the tunnel and is maintained at a positive potential with respect to the cathode 72, while the anode 74 is positive with respect to the counter electrode. Usually, the voltage values may be in the order of 4 kV, 2 kV and zero for the extraction anode 74, the counter electrode 82 and the resp. the cathode 72. The electrode 82 not only provides the relatively positive potential for forming the EVs, but also acts as a counter electrode for propagating the EVs through the nozzle opening 80, while the spaced anode 74, for example, is a load and can be replaced by any other type of load. Other materials, such as semiconductors, can be formed to fabricate the tunnel 76 with suitable electrical insulation from the cathode 72. In such cases, the tunnel material itself can serve as a counter electrode.

Since an EV induces an image charge in a dielectric separator 76, the EV will be attracted to the dielectric surface. However, the various impurities of the discharge, including electrons and ions, can be repelled through the tunnel separator 76, while the EVs are attracted through the tunnel. The EVs 25 can therefore exit through the opening 80 free of the discharge impurities, which impurities are retained within the separator 76. The cross section of the aperture 80 should be such that EVs can exit, while simultaneously providing a sufficiently narrow channel to retain the discharge contaminants and prevent them from passing through the aperture.

The construction of the generator 70 with the tubular separator 76 with a small opening 80 is relatively suitable for application of different environments 35 between the cathode 72 and the anode 74. The exit side of the nozzle, which is formed by the separator 76 with the opening 80, may be optionally exposed to vacuum or a particular gas pressure. The forming side of the nozzle, i.e., the interior of the separator 76, including 8800190 - 21 -, ..

located in cathode 72 may communicate with vacuum or a gaseous environment that is different from the environment at the output side. Suitable pumps can be used to maintain the desired environments.

Although the separator 76 shown and described above is in the form of a funnel, it has been found that a square box (not shown) with a small opening corresponding to the opening 80 for the exit of the EVs works relatively well for separating the EVs 10 from the rest of the electrical discharge, which, as noted, may include electrons, positive and negative ions, neutral particles and photons.

Fig. 9 shows an EV generator, denoted as a whole by 84 and equipped with a separator, 15 designed for use in a planar construction for an EV generator. A dielectric base 86 includes a surface cathode 88. A separator in the form of a dielectric cover 90 extends over and beyond cathode 88 and terminates in an inclined external surface which, together with a sloping internal surface with a smaller angle of inclination provides a relatively sharp edge hanging a short distance 92 above the surface of the base 86. As shown in Fig. 10, the separator 90 is also transversely pointed at the edge adjacent to the space 92 and provides walls 94 which cooperate with the inclined inner surface to determine the peripheral boundaries of the area which are effectively is enclosed between the separator lid and the base 86. The exterior flat surface of the lid 90 is partially coated with a counter electrode 96 which extends about two thirds of the length of the inclined outer surface of the lid to provide a relatively positive potential for forming and propagating EVs from the cathode 80.

A target or target anode 98 is disposed on the opposite side of the ceramic base 86 to collect the EVs and can be replaced by another load used to manipulate and / or exploit the generated EVs.

The separator 90 works in principle the same. && 00190 * - 22 - as the separator 76 of fig. 8, in that the EVs generated by the cathode 88 of fig. 9 are attracted forward by the counter electrode 96 on the cover 90 toward the opening 92, while retaining foreign discharge impurities within the lid 96. Alternatively, the cathode 88 can be placed in a groove (not shown) which extends beyond the back of the cover 90 on the base 86. A narrow groove may be provided on the bottom of the lid or on the base in the region 92 to allow the EVs to pass outside the lid shell. The groove of the cathode 88 can extend through the region 92, allowing the EVs to emerge under the lid 90. The counter electrode 96 can be omitted if the anode 98 extends to the left below region 92 in the view of Figure 9.

The base 88 and the separator cover 90 can be made of ceramic materials, such as aluminum oxide, and the counter electrode 96 and the anode 98 can be formed of a conductive silver layer, which is baked on the ceramic substrate, for example. Cathode 88 may be formed, for example, of silver baked on the dielectric, which is wetted with mercury.

Other coating processes for constructing conductor patterns, such as thermal evaporation or sputtering, can be used to form the counter electrodes of the two separators 76 and 90 of FIG.

8 resp. 9. The openings formed by the separators must be small enough to allow the EVs to exit while the discharge contaminants are separated. For example, the opening 80 of the separator 76 of FIG. 8 may have a diameter of 0.05 mm when the generator is operating at 2 kV and a circular lip thickness of about 0.025 cm. The lip and opening dimensions of the lid separator 90 of FIG. 9 may correspond to this. In any case, smaller openings allow lower stresses and still effectively filter out contaminants. In general, the exact cross-sectional shape of the separator is not of primary importance for the filter function.

.8800190 - 23 - 5. RC guides

Generally, an anode interacts with a cathode in applying an appropriate electrical potential to generate EVs and can serve as the target or load on the generator and actually be affected by EVs. Generally, a counter electrode is not affected by EVs, but is used to manipulate and control EVs and can be used in EV generation. The counter electrodes 82 and 96 of FIGS. 8 and 10, respectively. 9, for example, contribute to pulling the EVs forward away from the region where EVs are generated at the respective cathodes, but the EVs move further and are likely to strike anodes 74, respectively. 98, although both counter electrodes 82 and 96 also provide the EV forming voltage. As discussed in more detail below, an EV can move along or close to the surface of a dielectric material placed in the propagation path of the EV. If a ground plane or counter electrode is placed at an appropriate positive potential with respect to the generating cathode 20 on the opposite side of the dielectric material, the EV propagating on the cathode side of the dielectric material will tend to the counter electrode to be attracted to the dielectric and this attraction can be used to influence the trajectory of the EV along the dielectric as further described below, in particular in the case of RC (resistance / capacitance) conductors for EVs .

When an EV is directed to a dielectric structure, behind which is a counter electrode or.

anode is at a relatively positive potential, the EV can move in a seemingly arbitrary manner on the surface of the dielectric. However, the path of the EV is determined by local electrical influences, such as the dielectric polarization, surface charge, surface topography, thickness of the dielectric and the initial potential of the counter electrode together with its conductivity. The main mechanism, which affects the movement of EVs on dielectric surfaces, is the polarization capability of the dielectric, producing .8800190 A * - 24 - an imaging force, which attracts the EV to the dielectric but does not move the EV forward. Even in the absence of a counter electrode at a suitable potential, the induced image charge tends to attract an EV to the dielectric surface. The EV cannot enter the dielectric. Consequently, an EV will attempt to move across the surface of a dielectric, and when an edge or corner of the dielectric material is reached, the EV will generally handle this angle. As noted above, EVs tend to follow fine structure details and this is evident from the conduction effect of surface scratches and imperfections. Generally, any cutting line of two dielectric surfaces or faces that enclose an angle less than 180 ° will conduct the EV along the cutting line.

FIGS. 11 and 12 show an EV conduction member 100, which includes a dielectric base member 102 with a smooth groove 104, which provides an increased conduction effect. A counter electrode plate 106 covers most of the surface of the base member 102 opposite the groove 104 and can be maintained at a positive potential with respect to the emitting cathode, which faces one end of the groove. For example, the guide member 100 can be used in conjunction with an EV generator of FIGS. 1 and 2 and a separator, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10. However, such a guide member 100 can also be used with virtually any other EV source and other components are used. An optionally applicable top cover 108, which is also made of dielectric material, is shown in FIG. 11 and may be placed over groove 104 in contact with base member 102.

The width and depth of the groove 104 need only be a few microns for guiding small numbers of EVs. However, as the power to be processed increases and the number of EVs increases, the occupation can become a problem and it is necessary to increase the size of the groove. The cross-sectional shape of the groove 104 is not. 8900190 - 25 - Primary importance for the conduction properties of EVs. With EVs generated by a generator as shown in Figures 1 and 2 or Figure 3 and coupled to a guide member by a separator as shown in Figures 8 or 9 and 10 and a guide member such as 10 and 11, which includes a molten silicon or alumina dielectric base member having a total thickness of 0.0254 cm and a groove 104 with a depth of 0.05 mm and a width of 0.05 mm, the conductivity operation is demonstrated.

Figures 13 and 14 show a variant of a planar guide member, which is designated 110 and includes a dielectric base 112 with a dielectric tile or roof tile 114 placed on the base and suitably bonded here. The intersection of the surface of the base 112 with the surface of the tile, which intersects the base at an angle of 90 ° (ie half of a groove, such as groove 104 in Figs. 11 and 12) would be a "V "of 90 °, along which EVs could propagate. However, the guiding effect is improved by a beveled edge, as shown in the drawing at an angle of about 45 °, along which the tile surface intersects the base, so that a groove 116 is obtained. A counter electrode plate 118 is disposed on the surface of the base 112 opposite the tile 114.

A collection of tiles, such as the 114 tile, with chamfered edges to form grooves 116, may be arranged on the base 112 in a mosaic shape to define an extended guideway. The guiding part 110 30 can be used with virtually any other part used for generating, manipulating and / or exploiting EVs.

The conductivity on an EV can be enhanced by using a tubular dielectric conduction so that the EV can move along the interior of the tube. Fig. 15 shows a tubular dielectric conducting element 120 with an internal smooth passage of circular cross section 122 and coated on the outside with a counter electrode 124. The cross sectional area of the internal channel 122 should be slightly larger. then the EV bead or chain to be guided for best propagation properties.

The glass tube 34 with the ground plane 36 enclosing the tube shown at the generator 20 in Figure 3 is a conductor of the type shown in Figure 15. For different applications, the glass tube 34 of Figure 3 can be replaced with a guide of a different type.

FIG. 16 shows a conductive element constructed in its entirety as the opposite of that of FIG. 15, namely a dielectric tubular element 126 with an internal channel 128 coated with an internal counter electrode 130, while the exterior is substantially cylindrical surface 132 serves as the conducting surface in conjunction with the dielectric structure itself and the counter electrode 130. In this case, an EV can move over the outer surface 132, attracted to the conducting element by the image charge, which is generated due to the presence of the EV and also by the effect of the counter electrode 130, which is kept at a relatively positive potential.

Generally, the dielectric guides of FIGS. 11-16, as well as other dielectric components, may be appropriately doped to provide limited conductivity to limit or control stray charge, as described in more detail below. An EV moving within the conductor structure of an EC conductor device / provides a temporary charge on the conductor, as noted above, and a subsequent EV will not enter the direct high charge region of the conduction caused by the first EV , but can follow after the charge on the dielectric has dissipated after the passage of the first EV.

35 If the groove or tunnel used to guide through or over a dielectric material is too narrow in cross section compared to the size of an EV, the EV passing along the guide can actually cut into the guide material to form the web. .Ö800190 - 27 - »* widened. Once a channel has been drilled through an EV in this manner, no further damage to the dielectric material is caused by subsequent EVs moving along the guide. Usually a channel with a side-split size of about 20 µm will be suitable for the passage of EVs without penetration by the EV. This is approximately the lateral size of an EV bead chain formed into a ring that can be produced by a particular source. The guide groove can be made larger or smaller in cross-section to adapt to larger or smaller EVs depending on the conditions of their production.

6. Gaseous guides

Each of the guide structures according to Figs. 11-16 can be used in vacuum or in a particular gaseous environment. However, the use of low pressure gas in guide elements can provide another beneficial effect in the guidance of EVs, which are formed, for example, into a bead chain.

In some cases, EVs formed by high power sources may be composed of beads in a chain shape. Such a chain group cannot propagate well on a certain fixed guide surface due to the very tight coupling of the beads in the chain and the breaking that cause surface irregularities in the propagation of the chain shape. In a low pressure gas atmosphere, usually -3 -2 in the range from about 10 torr and up to 10 torr, the EV chain is added over a relatively short distance from the dielectric surface and no longer interacts disruptively with the surface with the result that the transmission efficiency is increased. In general, for a given applied voltage, then EVs can be formed with a greater separation between cathode and generating anode and can travel greater distances between the electrodes. Evidence from witness plates seem to indicate that upon movement relatively freely above a solid surface, a beaded chain will untwist and propagate approximately in the same way as a circular ring in a plane perpendicular to the direction of propagation. When the gas pressure is increased, the EV can be lifted further from the solid surface. At gas pressures above a few torr, EVs generally move completely free of the solid surface, and the flat solid surface 5 no longer functions as a conduction. However, a conductive effect can still be realized at such higher gas pressures for EVs moving along the interior of a closed conduit, as shown in Fig. 15.

While various gases have been found to be suitable for providing the lift effect with EVs and EV compositions, the high atomic number gases, such as xenon and mercury, behave very well. The increased conductivity on such EV assemblies and some EVs works well on the interior of dielectric conductance shells, as shown in FIGS. 11-15, and also works well on some flat surfaces.

Figures 17 and 18 illustrate a guiding device configured to use a gas "cushion" to lift EVs from the guiding surfaces while still providing a groove or trough-shaped guiding structure. The "gas" guide, generally designated 136, includes a trough formed from a dielectric block 138, which may include, for example, a glass-lined porous ceramic material. The dielectric block 138 has a counter electrode 140 at the bottom of the block and further includes resistive material coatings 142, which is described below in the section "surface conduction suppression" on the internal lower portions of the trough or groove, to resist movement of EVs across the coated surface outside the trough. The guide member 136 is connected to a gas connection pipe 144 by means of an attachment 146, which has an internal passage 148 through which gas can be supplied to the guide and pass through the bottom of the block 35 138 from a not shown source. The bottom of the dielectric block 138 is not vitrified at the intersection with the passage 148 so that gas can enter the porous interior of the block. The glass and resist material coat 142 are scratched or cut over the bottom of the V-shaped trough to allow gas to escape from the interior of the dielectric block 138. The entire device is enclosed for optionally influencing the environment, and a vacuum pump system is connected to the enclosure for pumping out gas exiting block 138. Gas, which is introduced into the porous block 138 via the fitting 146, therefore exits along the bottom of the trough and as it spreads upward through the trough it provides a gas pressure gradient. The concentration of the gas therefore varies from strong to light as it rises from the bottom of the trough. A pointed flared cathode 150, for example, a mercury-wetted copper wire, extends down to the bottom of the trough to a short distance from the start of the resistive coating 142 and can be raised a short distance above the dielectric material of the trough with the cathode tip kept.

During operation, a negative pulse of about 2 kV (or more when the cathode tip is not sufficiently sharp) can be applied to the cathode 150, while the counter electrode 140 is kept at ground potential, ie relatively positive, to generate EVs at the tip from the cathode far into the depth of the trough formed by the dielectric block 138 where the gas pressure is highest. The ECs propagate the length of the trough 25 when a selected gas is introduced into the trough through the connecting line 144 and the EVs are lifted into the gas layer just above the bottom of the trough, but are still sent to the dielectric block 138 are attracted to the image charge or force of the dielectric material and the potential of the counter electrode 140. The wedge-shaped gas pressure gradient provided by the trough curbs or "focuses" the gas cushion effect, helping to reduce the EVs within the boundaries of the trough to keep. However, an adequate gradient would be provided even if the trough was replaced by a flat surface with a corresponding cut in the glass coating and resistive material coating 142 so that, furthermore, in connection with the image force effect and the counter electrode potential, EVs along the dielectric block would be guided just above the cuts in the .8800190 - 30 coverings. Furthermore, from the previous discussion of the effect of low gas pressure on the propagation of EVs over dielectric surfaces, it would be apparent that EVs will be lifted above such a conducting surface when no gradient in the gas pressure is present.

7. Optical guides

An EV, moving through a pure, gaseous phase at low pressure, with no RC conduction structures present, involves the formation of a visible string. A narrow beam of light appears to precede the string and may result from ionization of the gas through the string. In any case, the EV follows the path determined by the string and the string seems to follow the propagation of light. Such an effect also occurs, for example, when EVs move over a guide surface in a gaseous environment, such as an environment of xenon gas. When an EV is propagated on or along the surface, it travels in a straight line if the surface is very clean. (Surface charge effects spread 20 after an EV has propagated in a gas environment.) The forward light from the string defines a straight path, which continues through the string and thus continues the EV. If this light path is deflected by objects on the surface, the string will deflect and the EV will follow the new path 25. Only a small disturbance is needed to start the job change. Once described, the track will be maintained for future use as long as the string continues.

Fig. 19 depicts an optical guide 30 for use in a gaseous environment. A dielectric plate 152 has a web 154, which is schematically indicated thereon and runs from left to right according to the view of Fig. 19. The web 154 can be a scratch on the surface of the plate 152 or a real guide groove in the plate . A (not visible) counter electrode at a suitable potential may be provided on the underside of the dielectric material 152 to assist in the propagation of EVs across the dielectric surface. A reflective surface 156 is positioned such that it cuts the EV path across the dielectric plate 152, as shown by a dashed line. The surface 156 reflects the incident light, apparently according to the optical laws, with the result that the EV path is deflected in the same manner. A second reflective surface 158 cuts the new, deflected light path and deflects the path in a new direction. Consequently, an EV will follow the light path indicated by the dashed line and be guided by both reflectors.

Preferably, each of the optically reflective elements 156 and 158 is a front surface reflector of a high dielectric constant material with good reflectivity in the ultraviolet region. In any case, the reflection angle determines the final EV path.

15 The change in the direction of the light path causes a change in the direction of the string and the EV follows the string along the path determined by the light. A gas pressure of several torr can be applied above the dielectric surface where the EVs propagate and are suitably conducted. The reflectors 156 and 158 need only a fraction of an mm on one side.

The optical guidance system of Fig. 19 or any variant thereof can be used with any possible EV generator and other components. Furthermore, optical reflectors, such as reflective elements 156 and 158, can be used with any other component. For example, a guide system with tubular guides, as shown in Fig. 15, may be equipped with optical reflectors at the ends of the tubular guides.

30 8. LC guides

When an EV approaches a circuit element, generally the potential on that element is decreased. The reduced potential makes the element less attractive to the EV, so that if there is a more attractive direction for the EV, a driving effect is available. Inductive elements are particularly sensitive to the change in potential in the presence of an EV and this effect can be exploited at an LC (inductance / capacitance). 880 019 0 - 32 - guidance for EVs.

Fig. 20 shows an exploded view of a three-stage quadruple EV structure, designated 160 as a whole, and comprising three guide members 162, which are mutually separated by two spacers 164. Each of the guide members 162 includes an external window and four pole members 162a, 162b, 162c and 162d, which extend towards the center of the window, but terminate at a shorter distance therefrom, whereby a central passage surface is obtained. EVs or EV chains enter the array of guide elements from one end of the array, as indicated by the arrow C, generally in a direction perpendicular to the orientation plane of each of the guide elements.

As shown in the drawing, the four poles 162a-d are arranged in mutually orthogonal pairs of opposing poles. Sufficient inductance is present in each of the poles to allow a potential drop in it as the EV approaches. The more an EV passes closer to a given pole, the greater the potential drop. For example, an EV closer to the lower pole 162a than the upper pole 162c causes a greater potential drop in the lower pole than in the opposite upper pole. The result is that the EV is more attracted to the more distant pole 162c than the closer pole 162a. Accordingly, a net force is applied to the EV, causing it to move upward, balancing the potential decreases in the two opposing poles 162a, 30c and 162c. A similar result occurs in the opposite poles on both sides 162b and 162d if the EV moves closer to one of these poles than to the other. A net restoring force forces the EV to the center of the distance between the two opposing pole faces in a horizontal or vertical direction. A spinning of the EV from the midrange in any direction again causes an imbalance in the potential decreases and creates a restoring force, which attempts to center the EV between the poles. It will be clear that the net restoring force will also be generated if the EV moves away from the center of the passage between the pole faces in a direction other than horizontal or vertical, causing uneven potential decreases across the four poles are caused, so that such restoring force will always have vertical and horizontal components determined by the potential imbalance between the opposing four poles in each of the two pairs.

Such recovery forces, which attempt to center the EV in the passage through a given guide element 162, can therefore be applied to any guide element. Thus, with a series of such four-pole conductor elements 162, restorative forces will be imparted along the length of the series with the result that the four-pole element series acts as an EV conduction, which centers the path of the EV between the four opposing tries to keep polar surfaces. The spacers 164 provide only a mechanism for separating the four-pole adjacent guide members 162 from each other. The entire array of guide members 162 and spacers 164 may be fabricated, for example, as a laminar device with guide members in contact with adjacent spacers. Furthermore, it will be clear that the LC guide of Fig. 20 can optionally be extended with additional guide elements 162 and spacers 164.

An LC guide, such as that shown in Fig. 20, can be manufactured in various shapes and with different numbers of poles. In practice, the poles shown in Figure 20 resemble delay lines along the axis of a pair of opposing poles. After an EV passes through a set of poles, a potential back-action will occur herein, depending on the time constant of the LC circuit. In the end, the oscillations in the potential will decrease. The time function of the guiding elements must be selected such that, for example, the passage of successive EVs is possible. Furthermore, it will be appreciated that the LC conduction of FIG. 20 operates without the need to produce certain imaging forces, such as in the case of an RC conduction dielectric, to correct for the position of an EV when moving through it, although the LC conduction mechanism can be explained as generating image forces on the whole. The guide elements 162 and the spacers 164 indeed form conductors instead of dielectrics.

The coupling between the moving EV and the guide structure 160 determines limits on the dimensions of the structure for a given EV size, i.e. EV charge. For example, if the guide structure 160 is too large in cross-section, the structure will not respond effectively for controlling the EV; too small a structure will not provide effective adjustment options for the reversal time and space for the EV track. Whether the conductivity structure 160 is too small or too large, its coupling to an EV will result in an unstable mode of propagation for the EV and destruction of the EV and damage to the conductivity structure. A factor that can be used in the design of an LC conductor 160, as shown in FIG. 20, is to regard the poles as quarter wavelength structures for the approach frequency of the EV to be conducted.

This frequency is mainly determined by the speed of the EV and the distance between the EV and the steering or pole elements 162a-d. Since the diameter of the guide 160 is related to the coupling coefficient, there is a relationship between the diameter of the guide and the distance of the elements 162a-d. In this type of conduction, the quarter-wave length elements 162a-d can operate at DC voltage or a fixed potential without charging effects. Although an LC conduction can generally be made as large or small as is necessary for adaptation and for coupling EVs to be conducted with the respective size, the velocity range for propagation of EVs to be conducted is by a given LC value. lead not arbitrarily wide.

It will be clear that, for example, the greater the number of EVs in a chain to be guided, the greater will be the power level to be absorbed by the guide device. In general, an EV, .8800190 - 35 -, which requires an RC conductor with a cross section of 20 μ, will require a slightly larger LC conduction. The distance between the lead electrodes or poles, such as 612a-d from Fig. 20, would also be close to 20 μ. Elements of such size will not be able to handle very high powers. While multiple parallel units can be used to conduct a flow of EVs, it may be more economical for the use of materials and processing to increase the EV structure to adapt to greater conductivity, such scaling is primarily a function of the EV generator or the charge combination circuits which follow the generators when multiple generators are used.

The type LC guide 15 shown in Fig. 20 can be made in many geometric and electrical variants. However, this type of structure is preferred for relatively large dimensions and construction using lamination techniques. Different construction techniques are applicable to smaller structures and in particular to those where film processes can be used. An exploded view of an LC guide fabricated with a film structure is indicated by 170 in FIG. 27.

The planar type LC-EV guide 170 includes three guide layers with an upper guide 172 and a lower guide 174 and an intermediate guide system 176 between the upper and lower guides. The upper guide 172 includes a pair of elongated elements 178 connected by transverse elements 180, thereby obtaining a ladder-like construction. Similarly, the bottom guide comprises elongated elements 182, which are connected by transverse elements 184. The intermediate guide system 176 includes two elongated elements 186, each of which has a series of downwardly extending stubs or pole pieces 188.

When the three guide elements 172-176 are combined into a laminar construction, the top and bottom cross members 180 and 184 together with the. S & 00190

* X

Pole pieces 188 of the intermediate system have a tunnel-shaped passage through the series of transverse elements and pole pieces. In such a construction, the lateral boundary of the EV propagation path is achieved by the conductive pole pieces 188, which resemble quarter wavelength conductors. The vertical limitation is obtained by the transverse elements 180 and 184, each of which acts as a shortened half-wavelength line. The guiding structure 170 operates effectively as a type of slit waveguide or retardation structure.

Since the conductive structure 170 is electrically highly active and is expected to radiate strongly, the structure can be enclosed by conductive surfaces at the top and bottom to suppress the radiation. Conductive radiation shields 190 and 192 are provided as top and bottom layers of the laminar construction according to the drawing. Since there is no fundamental need for a potential difference between the conductive elements 172-176, they can be interconnected at their edges, but can of course also be insulated from each other with spacers if desired.

Generally, the EVs produced in a burst by most generators are not highly controlled with regard to the distance between the EVs, although in some cases the distance between the generated EVs may be affected. LC guides, however, provide some synchronization to the EVs passing through them. The average speed of EVs or EV chains passing through an LC guide is tuned to the frequency of the guide 30 and the distance between the individual EVs or EV chains is forcibly synchronized with the structural period of the guide. The resulting periodic electric field produced in the conduction will bundle the EV train within that field by accelerating the slow EVs and slowing down the 35 fast EVs.

When the first EVs move in an LC conduction, a short period follows in which the electromagnetic field level is too low for a strong synchronization. As the level increases, synchronization becomes more effective .8800190 - 37 - _ U. The "Q" factor or performance number of the guidance as a cavity determines the speed at which a field is built and decreases. Excessive Q will cause cavity collapse. There is an implicit optimal fill factor for an LC guide as a synchronizer. At low fill, synchronization is ineffective and at high fill there is a risk of destruction and interference with the guiding function.

Better synchronization can be achieved when the synchronizer is more loosely coupled to the EVs than, for example, the LC guides of FIGS. 20 and 21. Such a loose coupling can be achieved by using a slotted cavity with narrow slots on one side of the guide. The device would then operate at a lower frequency and have a much wider passband. Such a structure is described below as an HF source.

9. Surface sources

Figures 22-24 show three views of a 20 EV generator, which is provided with a surface source together with a conducting member. Generally, conducting EVs on or near surfaces requires coupling them from the source or earlier part to the surface in question. In the case of a generator using cathodes, as shown, for example, in FIG.

4-6, it is possible to provide the source a short distance from the propagation surface and achieve an effective coupling. In the device of FIGS. 22-24, the source of EVs is integral with the guiding device 30 along which the EVs must be propagated for an enlarged coupling.

The generator and guide combination is designated 200 as a whole and includes a dielectric base 202 with a guide groove 204 and a surface or planar cathode 206 embedded at one end in the guide groove. A surface anode / counter electrode 208 is disposed on the side of the dielectric base 202 opposite the groove 204 and cathode 206 and serves to generate the EVs and propagate along the groove. An optional top cover 210 is shown in FIG. 24 and can be placed on the grooved surface of the base 202 and used without sealing provided that the surfaces are sufficiently flat. In order to avoid accumulation of charge in the covered guide channel, cover 210 is coated with a charge of scattering material, such as doped alumina, as described in more detail below.

In practice, the dielectric base 202 may be a ceramic alumina plate or substrate about 0.25 mm thick and a guide groove 204 of depth and width about 0.1 mm each. The metal coatings for the cathode 206 and the counter electrode 208 may be, for example, a silver paste composition baked on the ceramic. Mercury can be applied to the silver cathode by wetting by applying mercury with a rubbing treatment. At such dimensions 20, the operating voltage for producing EVs and propagating them along the conductor track 204 is about 500 V. The use of thin film processing methods to produce a thinner dielectric substrate 202 allows the operating voltage to be selected lower. With such film techniques, alumina can be used for the dielectric and molybdenum evaporates for the metal electrodes 206 and 208, all of which are deposited on an alumina substrate. In this case, mercury can still be used as a migrating cathode material, since ion bombardment wetting molybdenum can be achieved sufficiently for such an application. This bombardment can be a direct bombardment of the molybdenum surface. Alternatively, argon ions can be bombarded with mercury in the vicinity of the molybdenum surface, thereby cleaning the molybdenum surface before wetting. A small amount of nickel can be evaporated on the molybdenum surface to facilitate cleaning of the surface by direct or indirect mercury ion bombardment since mercury and molybdenum do not have high solubility. The combination of molybdenum and mercury is preferable to silver or copper and mercury, because silver and copper are too soluble in mercury for use in a film circuit since they can be quickly dissolved.

Since the cathode surface 206 is integral with the dielectric substrate 202 in the guide groove 204, the cathode is suitably coupled thereto, ie the transition of an EV from the cathode production area into and along the guide groove occurs with minimal energy loss due to the EV. In addition, the cathode 206 wetted by mercury or the like provides an auto-sharpening or regeneration operation, whereby the leading edge where the EVs are generated is appropriately kept sharp. Furthermore, the cathode 206 is an elongated or linear source, so that the pulse repetition frequency for producing EVs can be increased to much higher values than in the case of a single point source, because the regeneration process with liquid metal migration does not necessarily have to be to take place between all pulses in the case of an elongated source, as noted above. It is noted that the elongated cathode 206 is identical to the cathode 64 of FIG. 7, which is also mounted directly on a ceramic base 62. The action of such elongated cathodes relies on the surrounding field effects at the edges of the cathodes, which have a sharpening effect on the mobile cathode wetting material. Consequently, one or more relatively sharp structures can always be expected for the field emission, which is responsible for the EV-30 initiation, and therefore the operating voltage of such a source is relatively low.

10. Surface charge suppression

After an EV is generated, it may lose electrons due to the relatively poor bonding of such electrons at the time of formation or by some other process, such as moving the EV over a rough surface. Particularly in the latter case, the lost electrons can be distributed across the surface and cause a retarding field effect for subsequent EVs that pass in the vicinity of the charged surface area. Various techniques are available to remove this resulting surface charge.

The dielectric substrate or base, which is used, for example, in an EV generator or RC conductor and undergoes surface charge build-up, can be made conductive enough that the surface charge is conducted through the substrate to the anode or counter electrode .

The resistance of the base must be low enough to discharge the collected surface charge for the passage of the next EV, which follows the one that charged the surface. However, the resistance of the surface cannot be arbitrarily low, because the next EV would be destroyed by strong conduction to the anode or counterelectrode.

In order to achieve the desired degree of mass conduction of the substrate, the dielectric material, such as alumina, can be coated with any of the resist materials commonly used in the thick-film resist fabrication, provided that the resistivity is not below the range of 200 ohms per square unit. Such a resistive coating is usually composed of a glass frit with a metal component incorporated therein and is applied to the surface by screen printing and then baking at an elevated temperature. However, when intense EV activity occurs with the use of strong fields and potentially high thermal gradients, such glassy materials tend to break and are therefore unsatisfactory. Particularly in such cases, an alumina film, which is, for example, doped with chromium, tungsten or molybdenum, can be added to the dielectric member, so that a sufficiently conductive material is obtained, thereby achieving the desired dielectric conductivity value. reached.

The conductivity of the substrate can also be enhanced by applying an aluminum oxide film, such as doped with chromium, tungsten or molybdenum, to the surface of the dielectric member. The effectiveness of this procedure is enhanced by decreasing the thickness of the substrate.

The photo-emission spectrum of a decaying EV is rich in ultraviolet light and soft X-rays, if the disturbance of the EV causing the decay is severe. The absorption spectrum of the produced photoconductor should be adapted to these high energy products. Since the scattering of electrons and low electron mobility in the photoconductor causes the photoconductivity process to be slower than the passage 10 of the EV, the discharge of the surface charge due to the disintegrating EV occurs shortly after the EV enters a certain place has passed the surface and therefore does not threaten the conductivity of the EV to the anode. In addition to ultraviolet and X-ray emission, some of the electron emission from an EV near a surface excites fluorescence in the dielectric material and the fluorescent light then contributes to activating the photoconductivity process.

Another way of realizing surface charge suppression by photoconductivity is to use diamond-like carbon for the dielectric part.

Such a material has a wall distance of about 3 ff and can therefore be stimulated to photo conduction. Furthermore, such a carbon material can be easily doped with graphite carbon to increase the conductivity of the substrate.

Another technique for spreading the surface charge is to use bombardment-induced guidance. Such conductivity is activated by high-velocity electrons from the EV entering a sufficiently thin layer of dielectric to bombard the anode, causing conduction of the dielectric deposited on the anode. The conductivity of the dielectric is effectively enhanced when the high velocity electron stream is converted to a large number of lower velocity electrons in the dielectric. The dielectric material is suitably optimized for such a process by being sufficiently thin with few traps. The capture & & 00190 - 42 - t f sites can first be thermally removed by optical and are removed by the electric field during operation.

Generally, the geometry of the dielectric substrate can affect the effectiveness of rendering the substrate conductive for surface charge suppression, such as, for example, in the case of photoconductivity and bombardment-induced guidance techniques.

11. Launchers 10 In certain applications or structures, it is necessary or desirable to move an EV across a vacuum gap or gas environment. For example, an EV can be launched over a space that separates a cathode and an anode or conductor structure. Launching an EV across a gap can be accomplished by applying an appropriate voltage to pull the EV from one area to another. However, such an applied voltage may represent a power loss to the system or the potentially unwanted energy increase to the EV. The required applied voltage can be reduced so that system energy loss is minimized by allowing the EV to exit the cathode region and enter a counter-electrode region without excessive energy increase. This can be accomplished by moving the EV across an area where the field is high at the desired applied voltage so that the field separates the EV from the surface over which it moved and to which it was adhered.

Fig. 25 shows a launcher 216, which is designed to launch EVs over a gap between an EV generator 218 and an EV conductor 220. The generator 218 includes a dielectric base which is substantially tubular but at its front tip closes conically and tapers into a tip 222. A counter electrode 224 is formed within the dielectric base by conductor material, which coats the inner surface of the base over the conical portion thereof and partially extends over the cylindrical portion of the base. A portion of the exterior of the dielectric base is coated with conductor material to form a cathode 226. The cathode 226 * 8809190 - 43 - extends over the cylindrical portion of the base and on the conical end of the base, but not as far in the longitudinal direction as the counter electrode 224. By allowing the cathode 226 to stop shortly before the conical end 222 of the cathode, where EVs 5 are formed, it comes relatively close to the anode 224. The truncated cathode 226 further provides a larger EV producing surface than would be the case when the cathode extends to the tip 222 of the base. The surrounding field effect on the leading edge of the cathode 226 near the anode 224 is used to produce the EVs. Accordingly, according to the view of Fig. 25, the counter electrode 224 extends further to the right within the conical end of the base 218 than the cathode 226 on the outside of the conical end of the base, and the counterelectrode extends further to the left within the cylindrical part of the base then the cathode on the cylindrical outer surface of the base.

The tubular guide element 220, which is constructed substantially in the same manner as the tubular guide according to Fig. 15, is coated on the outer surface with conductor material which forms a counter electrode 228 extending over most of the length, but not over extends the entire length of the guide element. The counter electrode 228 does not extend to the ends of the lead element 220, so that the EVs do not propagate on the counter electrode. The end of the guide member 220, which faces the generator 218, has an internal conical surface 230, so that the generator tip 222 can be placed within the conical end of the guide member, while maintaining an intermediate distance between the two bodies . The guiding element 220 can also be configured to surround the generator 218, provided that the counter electrode 228 is kept away from the region of the cathode 226.

During operation, a suitable potential difference is applied between the cathode 226 and the counter electrode 224 of the generator 218 to generate one or more EVs which exit the front end of the cathode and move to the tip 222 under the influence of the potential - .8800190 α χ- - 44 - difference created field. The EVs should leave the generator 218 and enter the interior of the conductive element 220. Thereafter, the EVs can propagate along the interior of the guide member 220, at least in part, under the influence of the field caused by the counter electrode 228, as described above, the conical geometry of the generator end and the mutual position of the generator cathode 226 and the counter electrode 224 causes the EVs to undergo a strong field at the generator end 222, causing the EVs to separate from the base of the generator 218. The EVs are therefore ejected from the generator tip 222 to the beginning of the conductive element 220 and move on, now propagating under the influence of the guiding element.

In practice, the cathode 226 can be suitably wetted with a liquid metal conductor, as described above. The counter electrode 228 of the conducting element can operate at the same potential as the counter electrode 224 of the generator, but other potentials can also be used. The extraction voltage applied to the conductive counter electrode 228 is an inherent part of the generation process, and without such voltage the generator will not efficiently produce EVs. The extraction voltage is normally ground potential when the cathode 226 operates at a negative voltage. When a negative going pulse is supplied to the EV generating cathode 226, the generator counter-electrode 224 can be applied to ground potential. The mobile wetting metal is drawn into a thin ring at the end of cathode 226 located near tip 222.

EVs are generated around the cathode region so that at a high pulse rate, a constant glow occurs around the cathode end in EV production.

As an example for the construction of a launcher device according to Fig. 25, the dielectric body of the generator 218 may be made of aluminum oxide ceramic with a thickness of 0.1 mm in the region of the conical end, ie at the metal moistened cathode edge, and slightly thicker at the cylindrical shaft of the base to provide additional mechanical support. The counter electrode 224 and the cathode 226 can be formed by firing from a silver paste coating of the dielectric surface, as described above. Both the interior and exterior of the conical end of the base 218 have been precision machined to raise the field at the tip 222, causing the release of an EV as it approaches this area. The spacing between the generator tip 222 and the nearest internal surface of the guide member 220 may be on the order of 1 mm or less. In the foregoing dimensions, an EV may be formed and detached at the generator tip 222 with a potential difference of about 500 V between the generator counter electrode 224 and the cathode 226. A gas pressure of the order of 10 torr lifts the EV from the dielectric surface of the generator base 218 and facilitates the transfer and propagation of the EV to the conductor structure 220 and even allows the cathode pulse to be decreased to 200 V. High molecular weight gases such as xenon and mercury 20 are well suited for this function .

It is noted that the distance between the guide element 220 and the generator 218 can be adjusted.

In a particular application under vacuum or selected gas conditions, which require sealing, such movements can be realized by various techniques.

Although an approximately cylindrically symmetrical launcher 218 has been shown and described here, it will be appreciated that the launching technique can be applied to any type of EV generator and manipulator parts. For example, the planar generator and conductor of Figures 22-24 may use the launch technique to bridge a large gap to, for example, a subsequent conductor element, especially when a low voltage is used to generate the EVs.

In general, EVs can be formed and launched at lower voltages if the dimensions of the parts are reduced. For low voltage operation, it is desirable to use film coating techniques to manufacture the parts. For example, for manufacturing a planar launcher, an anode can be made by lithographic processes and then coated with films of dielectric material, such as aluminum oxide or diamond-like carbon. After depositing the dielectric material, the cathode material, usually molybdenum, can be applied to the dielectric material and then the entire cathode can be wetted with a liquid metal. Although an approximately cylindrical launcher cannot be so manufactured using film techniques, the electrodes can be painted on such a launcher. At a thickness of about 1 µm for the dielectric base of the generator, an EV may be formed and launched at a potential difference between the cathode and the generator's anode of less than 100 V.

While the preferred embodiments of an EV launcher have been shown and described herein, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that EV launchers may be manufactured in various other embodiments.

12. Voters

As noted above, EVs can be generated as beads in a chain, whereby multiple chains can be produced essentially at the same time. It may be desirable or necessary to isolate EVs with a selected total charge for use in a process or device. A selector can help limit the number of types of EVs available, so that the desired type is provided. Generally, several EVs can be generated and fed to an anode or collector around a sharp edge on a dielectric surface. An extraction field detaches selected EVs at the dielectric edge and propels them to a conductive component or other selected region. The extraction voltage as well as a conduction voltage 35 can be suitably adjusted in conjunction with the selector geometry to separate EVs with a selected charge value. Usually about 5 EV chains with ten or twelve beads each can be separated, adjusting the number of chains or EVs according to the geometry of the extractor.

An approximately cylindrically symmetrical selector is designated 236 in Fig. 26 and includes a generator 5 or source 238, which is constructed substantially in the same manner as the generator of Fig. 8. An approximately tubular dielectric ceramic base 240 has a conical front end, the respective angles of inclination of the outer and inner conical surfaces together forming a narrow opening bounded by a circular sharp edge 242. A conductive coating, such as a baked silver paste coating, forms a counter electrode band 244 around the outside of the conical end of the base. A metal-wetted cathode 246 is placed within the tubular dielectric base 240 with the conical end of the cathode within the conical shape of the dielectric base and facing the opening defined by the rim 242.

Cathode 246 may, for example, consist of mercury-wetted copper, as described above.

An extraction element 248, in the form of a conductive plate with a circular aperture 250, is aligned a short distance from the circular rim 242. Beyond the extraction element 248, for example, is a tubular guide 252 with a dielectric. 25, the outer surface of which is partially coated with a conductive material to obtain a counter electrode 254.

When the generator 238 is operated to produce EVs without applying voltage to the extraction element 248, the EVs move from the region of the cathode tip to the anode 244, moving through the hole in the end of the ceramic cone and around the sharp edge 242 to the outside of the cone and to the anode. However, when an appropriate voltage is applied to the extraction element, a certain portion of the EVs at the dielectric rim 242 are released from the dielectric and driven to the extraction opening 250 and then to the guide element 252, by which they are propagated under the influence of the potential on the • 880019 0 - 48 - counter electrode 254.

A planar selector is indicated at 260 in FIG. 27 and includes a substantially planar dielectric base 262 with an elongated neck portion 264. A surface source 5 or generator, which is approximately of the type shown in FIG. 20, is shown in the FIG. selector 260 and has a planar cathode 266 in a groove 268. However, instead of being mounted on the opposite side of the dielectric base 260, the anode for generating the EVs is configured as a coating 270 on the side wall of a second groove 272 which cuts the first groove 268 at an acute angle to form a sharp cutting edge 274. When only a potential difference is generated between the cathode 266 and the anode 270, EVs formed by the cathode move along the groove 268 to the intersection with the groove 272, after which the EVs move around the sharp edge 274 and the anode 270.

Two extraction electrodes 276 and 278 are placed on the outer surface of the neck portion 264 of the base 262 on either side thereof and flank the guide groove 268. Applying an appropriate voltage to the extraction electrodes 276 and 278 results in certain EVs passing over the sharp edge 274, are released therefrom and continue into the guide groove 268 and move through the region delimited by the extraction electrodes. As shown in Fig. 28, a counter electrode 280 lies below a portion of the guide groove 268 in the neck portion 264 of the dielectric base, to push the selected EVs further along the guide groove past the extraction electrodes 276 and 278.

As noted above, when moving along a surface, an EV is bound to it by image forces. The magnitude of the bonding force depends to some extent on the geometry of the surface through which the image force is applied. When the effective area of the surface is reduced, as is the case when an EV passes around a sharp circular edge 242 of the conical structure of the generator 238 of FIG. 26 or around the sharp edge 274 of the planar selector 260 of FIG. 27, .8800190 - 49 - j ·. Beeld the image force decreases and the EV is loosely bound and thereby more easily detached through a field supplied by another electrode with a relative positive voltage applied thereto. The high negative charge of the EVs, which travel to the extraction electrode, can temporarily lower the potential between the cathode and the extraction element below the threshold required to charge any of the other bead chains or beads from the group. loosen the edge in question moving towards the source anode. After the first EV structure has been separated and the extraction field has passed, a subsequent EV can be pulled away from the dielectric edge region.

For example, in the embodiment of FIG. 26, for an applied negative voltage of 2 kV to the cathode, an aperture of approximately 50 µm defined by the sharp edge 242, a cone beam of the same size and a distance from the dielectric opening to the extraction electrode of about 1 mm, a positive extraction voltage of about 2 kV is required to detach an EV. The extraction-20 threshold voltage is critical. For example, when an EV source of such dimensions is constantly operating and the EVs are completely captured by the anode on the dielectric cone, extraction does not occur by the 1.9 kV extracting element, but EVs are released at a po -25 active extraction voltage of 2.0 kV.

Although voters are shown added to EV generators in Figures 24-26, voters can be used anywhere in EV manipulation components. For example, a selector can follow a guiding element or even another dividing element. Placing EV voters in a series, or even in a cascade, makes it possible to separate EVs with a certain binding energy from EVs with different binding energies.

13. Splitting Elements In general, operations involving accurate timing or synchronization of events can be controlled by two or more output signals derived from a single input signal. For example, a first event can be divided into a .8800190 * *> - 50 number of sub-events. With an EV source, which produces a large number of EV beads or bead chains within a very short period of time, it is possible to divide this event, i.e. a burst of EVs, into two or more EV propagation signals. A device for distributing EV signals in this way is referred to as a splitting element and is manufactured essentially by interrupting a conductor part, such as the RC conduction devices shown in Figures 11-16, with one or more side conduction channels , which cut the main guide channel. When EVs move along the main conduction channel and reach the intersection of the main channel with a side or secondary channel, some of the EVs move in the secondary channel while the remainder continues in the main channel. When manufacturing a splitting element, it must be ensured that the secondary guide channel intersects the main channel in a position where the EVs actually propagate. For example, if the main channel is relatively large, so that the EVs can move in many places across the cross section of the main channel, there is no assurance that an EV will intersect with the secondary channel sufficiently close to the input of the secondary channel. meet to go to the secondary channel.

In figures 29 and 30, a splitting element 290 is provided, which is provided with a dielectric base 292 on which a mosaic tile 294 is bonded. A second tile piece 296 is also bonded to the base 292. Tiles 294 and 296 are cut as shown and bonded to base 292 with appropriate spacing to form a secondary conduit channel 298 between the two tiles. A single tile, which is approximately rectangular in accordance with the plan view of Fig. 29, may be cut into two pieces to form the channel 298 by properly bonding the two pieces to the base 292.

As described above, an angle of 90 ° between the edge of such a mosaic tile and the base 292 would form a channel through which EVs would be attracted and guided. However, a 45 ° chamfer provides a primary channel 300 with an acute angle, when tiles 294 and 296 are bonded to base 292, in the same manner as such channel is formed by guide member 110. from Figures 13 and 14. A conductive counter electrode or ground plane 302, which contributes to the attraction force that keeps the EVs within the conduction channels, is disposed on the side of the base 292 opposite tiles 294 and 296. The dielectric tiles 294, 296 and the base 292 can be made of any suitable material, such as aluminum oxide. The counter electrode 302 10 can be formed from a suitable conductor material, such as silver paste. The potential supplied to the counter electrode 302 is selected depending on the application and other potential levels used and may be positive or ground.

A second version of a splitting element is indicated by 310 in Fig. 31 and includes a dielectric base 312 with a primary straight conduit channel 314 and a secondary conduit channel 316 that branches off the primary channel at an acute angle. The channels 314 and 312 consist of grooves of rectangular cross section formed in the base 20 312. As shown in Fig. 32, a counter electrode 318 is disposed on the opposite side of channels 314 and 316 from base 312, thereby promoting propagation of the EVs through the channels, and a flat dielectric cover 320 may optionally be against the placed on top of the base for enclosing the guide channels. In order to ensure that the EVs moving from left to right through the main channel 314 according to Fig. 31 are sufficiently close to the side of the main channel interrupted by the secondary channel 30 316, it is necessary that the cross section of the primary channel is not much larger than the average size of the EVs propagating through that channel, although each channel must be large enough to accommodate the largest EV structure to pass. (The mosaic guide 35 channel with the beveled edge 300 of Figures 29 and 30 can accommodate any size EV structure because it has an open side.) Normally for an EV bead chain formed at 2 kV, the side size of the primary channel to be 20 ym. The lower limit for a channel width for the guide. as o o 19 o - 52 - / * den of a single EV bead is about 1 ym. If EV bead chains, formed at 2 kV, are to be propagated through both channels of the splitting element 310, the width of the secondary channel 316 should be at least 20 µm 5 and the width of the primary channel 314 can be between 20 µm and 30-35 ym,

Both splice elements 290 and 310 can be combined with various other parts, and EVs can for example be launched into and propagated through primary conduction channels 300 and 314 from any of the sources described herein. In the case of the splitting element 219 of Figures 29 and 30, EVs or EV bead chains move along the top of the chamfer 300 forming the channel until the intersection with the secondary channel 298 is reached. At that point, some of the EVs or EV bead chains move in the secondary guide channel 298 and the remainder continues to the right according to the view of Figure 29 through the main channel 300. The secondary channel 298 guides the EVs entered in this channel or EV bead chains along the bend of this channel, so that two streams of EVs or EV bead chains exit at the right end of the splitting element 290 through the two channels 300 and 298. From this point, the EVs can be manipulated or operated by other parts.

Likewise, EVs or EV bead chains launched into the left end of the primary channel 314 of the splitting element 310 of Figures 31 and 32 move through this channel until some of the EVs or EV bead chains pass the secondary Enter channel 316 through 30 and pass through its bend so that two streams of EVs or EV bead chains arrive at the right end of the bifurcation element for further manipulation or exploitation.

A single EV, passing through the primary channel of the splitting element 290 or 310, is expected to move to the narrower secondary channel in either case.

However, a stream of EVs or EV bead chains will be spliced as described, with some following the main conduction channel and the remainder following the secondary channel .8800190 - 53 -. The deflection of only part of a moving EV current in a secondary channel with a cross-section less than or equal to that of the primary channel may be due to an over-crowding effect of multiple EVs or 5 EV bead chains at the channel intersection, possibly caused due to the high concentration of charge of the EVs, which prevents the entire EV group from taking the secondary job. This is a form of automatic switching, with one or more EV structures entering the secondary channel simultaneously, while the others follow the main lane. In any case, the type-splitting elements of Figures 29-32 realize multiple currents of EVs generated as a single current from a single source. The arrival of the EVs at the output ends of the primary and secondary channels is furthermore approximately simultaneous, since the difference in path length of the primary and secondary channels is insignificant. As a result, multiple EVs generated with a single signal pulse and arriving at the junction of, for example, primary and secondary conduction channels can be split, with some EVs traveling along each of the conduction channels, allowing EV arrivals or signals in two places are being produced. If the conductor path lengths are identical, the EVs may arrive at the end points of the 25 channels simultaneously or at least simultaneously.

A variable time delay splitter is designated 330 in Figures 33 and 34 for use in generating a pair of EV propagation signals generated from a single burst of EVs, but arriving at two locations at certain times, which are the same or can be different. The time delay splitting element 330 includes a dielectric base 332 on which three dielectric mosaic tiles 334, 336 and 338 are bonded. A pointed cathode 340, as shown, for example, in Figures 1 and 2 or 17, is used herein to generate EVs which propagate along a first path 342 extending along the intersection of base 332 with the top edges ( according to the view from fig. 33) of the two tiles 334 and 336. The path 342 further proceeds upwards according to 8800190 * * - 54 - the view from fig. 33 along the intersection of the base 332 with the left edge of the rectangular tile 338, along its top edge and down along its right edge.

The first tile 334 is in the shape of a trapezium, which interacts with the second tile 336, which is triangular, forming a channel 344 separating the two tiles and cutting the primary web 342 at an acute angle so that the starting leg of a secondary guideway 346 is formed.

An approximately u-shaped dielectric tile 348 with left and right legs 350 and 352, which extend around the lower part of the rectangular tile 338, as shown in the drawing, is movably mounted and optionally in any position with respect to the rectangular tile 338 are placed, as indicated by the double arrow E. The secondary track 346, as seen in Fig. 33, descends along the 90 ° intersection (see Fig. 34) of base 332 with the left side of tile 338, until the track reaches tile leg 350. The movable left leg 20 350 has a lower inner edge 354 beveled at 45 °, as shown in Fig. 34. Consequently, the secondary path 346, which follows the cutting line of the base 332 and the left edge of the rectangular tile 338 below the channel 344, is then guided by the cutting line of the base 332 and the bevel 354 of the leg 350, since the EVs prefer the more limited intersection than the 90 ° intersection of the edge of the tile 338 with the base 332. Consequently, the EV path 346 leaves the tile 338 and follows the tile leg 350. It should be noted that the movable tile 348 with leg 350 can be placed at the outlet of channel 344 so that secondary path 346 follows the leg without first following the left side of tile 338. The secondary web 346 continues to the base of the U-shaped tile 348 and then follows the tile base to the right leg 352, which with its left edge cuts the base 332 at an angle of 90 °, as shown in Fig. 34. displayed. However, the lower right edge of the tile 338 has a chamfer 356 at 45 ° as an intersection with the base 332. Consequently, EVs that move upward along the cutting line of the tile according to Figure 33-8800190 - 55 -

Jr. leg 352 with the base 332, then along the chamfered intersection of the tile 338 with the base and upwardly away from the end of the movable leg. As shown in Fig. 34, a counter electrode 358 is located below base 332,5 to obtain the potential required to increase the conductivity of paths 342 and 346 and where splitting element 330 creates a cathode 340 for generating the EVs to provide the potential for this generation.

The right edge of the rectangular tile 338 has two launchers 360 and 362 in the form of dielectric extensions terminating in sharp edges. EVs, which move along the 90 ° intersection of the top portion of the right edge of the tile 338 with the base 332, are therefore guided through the intersection of the launcher 360 with the base. Launcher 360, however, has a triangular cross-section, giving a sharp edge at the right end of the launcher. The EV will move forward over the flat substrate of the base 332 instead of bypassing the acute angle of the launcher 360. This forward movement of the EV is strongly influenced by the exact shape of the leading edge of the launcher 360, which must therefore be relatively sharp and straight to avoid launching EVs at undesired angles. An external field can be generated by electrodes (not shown) arranged on the right side of the launcher 360 for further manipulation of the EVs. Similarly, the launcher 362 has a sharp edge at its right end, so that EVs moving along the oblique cutting plane of the lower right edge of the tile 338 with the base 332 deflect to the right according to the perpendicular cutting plane between the launcher 362 and the base and then over the base away from the launcher. The EVs exiting launcher 362 can be further manipulated by an appropriate external field generated by appropriate electrodes (not shown).

The primary track 342 is a fixed track, i.e. it has one track length between the intersection of this track. aaoo 19 oi * - 56 - and the channel 344 and the launcher 360. The secondary track 346 therefore has a variable track length between the intersection of the channel 344 with the primary track 342 and the second launcher 362. This variation in track length 5 is achieved by displacing the U-shaped dielectric element 348 relative to the rectangular tile 338, as indicated by the double arrow E. The further the dielectric element 348 is moved further down relative to the tile 338, the longer the secondary path length will be 346 (and the shorter the overlaps of the legs 350 and 352 with the respective sides of the tile 338 to be). By optionally positioning the dielectric conductive element 348 relative to the tile 338, the length of the track 346 can be selected and, in this way, the time required for the EVs to travel the secondary track 346 and at the second launcher 362 to arrive is selected. In this manner, the relative arrival time dot at the two launchers 360 and 362 of single pulse-generated EVs, which then follow the two paths 342, 20 and 346, can be selected by positioning the dielectric conductor 348.

The 10 mm dimension, shown in Fig. 33, shows a conventional scale for a variable splitting element. It is noted that differences in path lengths on the order of a tenth of a millimeter or less can be easily realized with a variable splitting element of the indicated size. Any suitable means can be used to move and optionally position the movable guide element 348, for example a mechanical connection. When the adjustment is made manually, a micromanipulator or converter, such as a lever and / or gear system with appropriate mechanical advantage, can be used to achieve the desired control accuracy, if necessary.

It will be appreciated that the guideways 342 and 346 can be modified in any suitable manner for a particular application. Furthermore, the tracks need not extend in the direction of launchers 360 and 362, but may continue, for example, to ver. Sa o o 19 o - 57 - Λ. ft further guideways or to other parts.

For example, in FIG. 35, a variant of a variable time delay split element 370 is shown. The construction and operation of the splitting element 370 is similar to that of the splitting element 330 and need not be described in detail except for the differences present between the two. For example, the fixed guide track 372 may be the same as the fixed guide track 342 of Fig. 33, but the variable guide track 374 of the splitting element 370 is set by a movable guide element 376 (which is indicated by the double arrow F), which is aligned view from FIG. 35 extends further to the right and terminates in a launcher 378 which delivers the EVs along a line directed to an intersection 15g with the first guideway 372. The EVs can therefore reach point G from two different directions simultaneously or at selected different times depending on the position of the movable guide member 376. Witness plates or other EV detecting means, such as phosphor screens 380 and 382, may be arranged for the reception of EVs traveling along the primary and secondary paths 372, respectively. 374 move. Furthermore, suitable anodes or counter electrodes can be used to promote the movement of the EVs of the launchers.

Generally, the cross-sectional secondary channel may be larger, smaller, or equal to the main channel. If the secondary channel has a much larger cross-section than the primary channel, all EVs can follow the secondary channel. The secondary channel can cut the main 30 channel at any sharp angle up to 90 °. The channels can branch out in different patterns, so that, for example, a "Y" or a "T" is formed. In such examples, the two branches can be equal channels. Furthermore, multiple secondary paths can be used, so that each number of output signals can be obtained from, for example, a single EV input signal from a single source. It will be clear that the splitting elements can also be manufactured in a different manner than according to figures 29-35. For example, splice units can be fabricated with the aid of approximately tubular guide members as described above.

14. Deflection switches

As noted, EVs and EV chains 5 can not only be moved in selected directions using guide components, but the guide members may also include bends in the guideways in order to change the propagation direction of choice. The conductive members affect the direction of propagation of the EVs 10 due to the attraction that EVs undergo towards the dielectric conduction surfaces, which is caused by the image-loading forces on the EVs, as well as the fields generated by counter electrodes, which move the EVs further towards the dielectric tighten the guide surface. The propagation direction of EVs and EV bead chains can also be influenced by transverse electric fields acting on the electrical charge of the EV units to deflect them into new, chosen directions. The amount of deflection will depend on the size of the deflecting field, as well as the period during which the field acts on the EV unit.

The deflecting field can be turned on or off or set to different strengths to deflect EVs to varying degrees or not to deflect at all when the EVs traverse a certain area. Obviously, there is a two-way effect and the deflecting mechanism, whichever form it may take, may undergo an unwanted reaction from a backlash caused by the EV passage.

When EVs move along conduction paths, such as those provided by the previously described conduction grooves, the EV propagation path is very stable not only due to the potential in which the EVs move due to the dielectric image charge and the counter electrode field, but also by the transverse wall boundaries provided by the dielectric groove in two or more transverse directions. In order to be able to deflect an EV moving through a guide channel laterally through an applied field to a new direction of advancement, the. axis o o 19 o _i * - 59 - pipe limitation in the deflection direction must be low enough to allow deflection under the influence of a deflecting field. At the very least, the area where deflection is to be made must be clear of any guide channel wall, which would otherwise hinder transverse deflection of the EV. Generally, an EV, which follows a guide channel and has a very stable path of travel, must be exposed to a relatively unstable path in the deflection region; after the desired deflection has taken place, the EV-10 can again enter a relatively very stable path of movement in a guide channel, for example. Where a choice is possible, the EV may continue in one of two or more available propagation trajectories available depending on the application of a deflection field. An apparatus, which is thus used to selectively change the direction of travel of, for example, an EV or EV chain is a deflection switch.

Figures 36-38 show top, side, and end views of a deflection switch 390. The EV deflection switch 390 is a single-pole two-way switch, which is constructed with a dielectric base 392 with a single input conductor channel 394 and a first and second output guide channel 396, respectively. 398. The input and output channels 394-398, which are parallel to each other in the drawing, but may be at any other angle to each other, are connected by a transition or deflection region 400, which is the same depth has as the guide channels, but is widened. A conductive counter electrode 402 is located below the input channel 394 and conductive counter electrodes 404 and 406 are located, respectively. below output channels 396 and 398 to provide suitable voltages to promote the advancement of EVs along the respective conductor paths.

Two deflection electrodes 408 and 410 are also out.

35, the bottom side of the base 392 is disposed opposite the guide channels 394-398 and the transition region 400, which deflection electrodes extend laterally from positions partially below the transition region outwardly, so that relatively large area electrodes are obtained. Thus, an EV, '.8800190 * i - 60 - which enters the transition region 400 from the input guiding channel 394 can be deflected to the left (viewed from the point where the EV enters the transition region) by placing a positive charge on the left 5. deflection electrode 408 and / or a negative charge on the right deflection electrode 410. In this manner, the EV propagation path is deflected from the rectilinear path which is imposed within the input guide channel 394. By appropriately applying charge to the deflection electrode 408 and / or 410, the EV track can be deflected such that the EV enters the first or left output guide channel 396, along which the EV can travel further. Alternatively, charge may be applied to one or both deflector plates 408 and 410 so that the advancing path of an EV 15 is deflected from the input channel 394 such that the EV enters the second or right output channel 398 along which the EV continues to advance.

The operation of the deflection switch is based on the fact that an EV can move from a relatively very stable path in the input guide channel to an area which is relatively unstable, within which the path can be optionally deflected by applying a deflecting field, after which the EV can enter an output guiding channel, which forms a next relatively very stable path of advancement. The transition from the input guide channel to the transition area must be such that no transition phenomena are caused in the EV path, otherwise incorrect switching may occur. A feedback of the deflected EV can be used to completely overcome the influences of input load or coupling. For example, each nearby electrode will receive a voltage feedback when passing an EV; the feedback signal can be passed to a deflection plate via a suitable variable amplitude phase inverter coupling. Experts will recognize a balancing device herein. By reversing pipes, it can be used to obtain a universal joint. Such a feedback electrode 412 is shown in the drawing on top of the base 392 adjacent to the left output channel 396 and - 6800190 - 61 - connected through a suitable line to a coupling circuit 413, the output of which is connected to the left-hand deflection electrode 408 A corresponding feedback electrode 414 is mounted on the base near the right-hand output channel 398 and connected to a coupling circuit 415, the output of which is connected to the right-hand deflection electrode 410. In this way, a degenerative or regenerative feedback can be achieved to obtain a stable resp. unstable, i.e.

10 bistable, switching process. Other known feedback effects can be obtained with a different feedback circuit for each effect. Likewise, filters can be made with the feedback circuits to limit switching EVfs to an output channel in accordance with, for example, the charge size or other parameters. It has an important advantage of providing the feedback circuit with electromagnetic components that operate near the speed of light to overcome the delays that would otherwise cause a poor transition response. Conventional resistance, capacitor and coil components generally work well with EVs moving at about 0.1 times the speed of light.

The deflection switch 390 of Figures 36-38 can be manufactured by, for example, etching the guideways and transition region in molten silicon using photolithographic techniques. The conductive electrode coatings can be made by vacuum evaporation or sputtering techniques. The depth and width of the input and output conduction channels should be approximately 0.05 mm for operation with EVs generated at approximately 1 kV. The deflection voltages applied to the deflection electrodes can vary from tens of Volts to kiloVolts depending on the degree of stability of the path of the EV passing through the transition or deflection region. The stability of the EV path within the transition region depends on the shape and length of the transition region, as well as the shape of the counter electrodes,

In order to optimize the deflection sensitivity of a switch, the EV propulsion path should be more unstable in the center of the transition area .8800180 - 62 - i. For example, the deflection switch 390 has a transition guide portion 400 with side walls 416 which intersect the input channel guide walls at right angles, thereby defining an abrupt end of the input guide channel 394. Such an abrupt mechanical transition requires high deflection voltages for selectively controlling and deflecting the EVs within the transition region, since the EVs can adhere only to one of the side walls of the transition guide region 400 opposite the desired direction of deflection. Accordingly, a high deflection voltage would be required to switch an EV across the transition guide region 400 to the opposite wall.

The transition from the input channel 394 to the deflection guide region 400 can be made more gradual and the deflection sensitivity of the device can be increased by a certain pattern of the electrodes, including the input conduction counter-electrode 402. As shown, for example, the input conduction counter-electrode 402 terminates. not at the intersection of the input guide channel 394 with the intermediate transition section 400, but continues into a tapered section 418, which extends partially below the intermediate section. The deflecting electrodes 408 and 410 are similarly chamfered parallel to the tapered portion 418 of the input counter-electrode 402. Such an electrical transition technique allows an EV with minor perturbation to move from the input guide channel 394 to the intermediate guide section 400, ie without significant modification. in trajectory in the absence of a deflection field, thereby promoting high deflection sensitivity. Without the use of a counter electrode, the EV travel path cannot be easily predicted.

As shown, the intermediate region 400 35 forms a slightly V-shaped wall 420 between the first and second output guide channels 396, respectively. 398. The shape of this portion 420 of the sidewall of the intermediate guide section is relatively ineffective for controlling the stability of the EV tracks within the intermediate region.

.8 & 00130 - 63 - t

Alternatively, an EV can be introduced into the intermediate transition section for low disturbance deflection using a mechanical design, which provides a smooth transition of the EV from the influence of the input guide channel to the intermediate guide region. Such a deflection switch may, for example, be provided with an input guide channel, which tapers in the thickness direction or depth together with an input guide gene electrode, which can end relatively abruptly and even, for example, end in a square. For example, an oblique top surface 422 above the entrance channel 394 is indicated by a dashed line in Fig. 37 as an example for such a mechanical design. The input guidance channel gradually loses its guidance efficiency for the EV as the EV moves forward to the deflection region, thereby providing a transition between the two regions with little disturbance to the EV's trajectory in the absence of a deflection field, thereby relatively high deflection sensitivity is achieved. It should be noted that etching techniques generally produce beveled edges rather than abrupt rectangular edges at the ends of surfaces. This naturally occurring etching bevel can be exaggerated to include bevel 422 in FIG.

37.

One technique to obtain greater stability against charge collection is to use a low resistance coating for the deflection electrodes and to place these electrodes on the top surface within the transition region 400 rather than below the region. The EV path will therefore generally cross a deflection electrode. Dielectric charging is prevented by using this deflection method.

15. EV Oscilloscope

An EV or EV bead chain, which moves over a surface in vacuum, can do this erratically due to local fields and surface disturbances. Such movement involves injecting electrons through the EV so that its orbit is visible when it is observed through an electron imaging system or. && 00190 - 64 - * t.

in that the injected electron strikes a nearby phosphor, which produces visible light. By using field-forming structures, such as deflecting electrodes, to apply electric fields to control the path of an EV, the path and therefore its optical image can be forced to perform the time-varying function of the applied voltage. describing the function of an oscilloscope. This can be effectively accomplished by extending the quality of the stabilization and deflection methods of the EV switch 390 of Figures 36-38.

A planar type EV oscilloscope is shown at 424 in FIG. 39 and includes a dielectric substrate or base 426 with an EV input conduction channel 428, 15 which terminates at a planar transition or deflection region 430 corresponding to the transition region 400 of the deflector switch 390 of FIG. 36. A conductive counter electrode 432 is located below the guide groove 428 but extends tapered below the deflection region 430. The start wall 434 of the deflection region 430 is at an angle of 90 ° to the input. channel 428. The combination of the tapered counter electrode 432 and the position of the wall 434 relative to the input channel 428 therefore maximizes the stability of EVs or EV chains entering the deflection region from the input channel, as described above. using the deflection switch 390.

Two deflection electrodes 436 and 438 are provided on the underside of the substrate 426 to optionally provide a signal acting on EVs moving through a defined portion of the transition region 430, namely the active region indicated by the dashed line H. . The entire internal surface of the transition region 430 can be coated with a resistive material to suppress surface charges and function as a termination for the transmission line, which supplies the deflection signal to the deflection electrodes 436 and 348. The bottom surface of the deflection region 430 must be smooth to avoid local unintended structures that could deflect an EV. The EV or EV chain moves out of the active area H and down. 88001 90 - 65 - I bend area 430 as a whole and can eventually be captured by a collector anode (not shown).

Fig. 40 shows an end view of the EV oscillos coop 424, with a phosphor screen 440 added. The screen 440 should be located at least over the active region H, but may extend over the entire transition region 430 or even the entire substrate 426, as shown. Electrons emitted by the EV or the EV chain moving under the influence of the applied deflection field interact with the phosphor screen 440 to emit light. An optical microscope 442 is arranged to receive light emitted by the phosphor 440 for magnification and observation. A light amplifying television camera can also be used in this embodiment instead of the optical microscope. The magnification for the observation system, a microscope or a television camera, must be sufficient to make an object of a few micrometers, approximately the size of an EV, visible. The use of a television monitor to monitor the activity of the oscilloscope provides both an increased sensitivity and a simple recording capability. Furthermore, an electron camera, described in Chapter 16 below, can be used to directly observe an EV moving through the transition region 430 or even in space.

Any EV source, which can be combined with launching into guides, can be used with the EV oscillos coop 424. Optionally, a separator or selector can also be used to achieve the desired EV or EV-30 chain. guide channel 428 enters. Usually, the forming and launching voltage used to obtain EVs for the oscilloscope 424 can be between 200V and 2kV depending on the size of the structures used. As in the case of the deflection switch 390 35 of Figs. 36-38, the design of the conduction channel 428 (such as its length) and the counter electrode 432 and the deflection region 430 must be such that a stable EV is launched into. the deflection region 430 without adhering to the side walls of the deflection region. The scope 424 operates in part as one. && 00190 - 66 - * analog type switch with many output states, which are determined by the voltage applied to the deflection electrodes 436 and 438.

The speed of the EV, moving out of the conduction channel 428 and over the deflection region 430, coupled with the image magnification of the optical microscope, television system or electron camera, represents the horizontal scanning speed of the oscilloscope 424, while the electric field, which perpendicular to this movement is generated by the deflection electrodes 436 and 438, which represents the vertical axis. The EV movement obtained is not a real function of the potential imposed on the deflection electrodes 436 and 438, but rather an integral of the function.

Synchronization of the EV track with the analyzed electrical event by means of scope 424 can be achieved by generating the EVs slightly before the event is to be displayed, as is common in oscillography. The sensitivity and time base frequency of the scope 424 can be varied by geometrically modifying the entire device or at least sensing a longer EV loop in an extended active region H for longer time base settings. The distance between the closest points of the two deflection electrodes 436 and 438 can usually be of the order of about 1 mm and input signal frequencies of the order of 100 GHz can be used. The voltage range of the display device is determined by choosing a certain attenuation for the signal before it is applied to the deflection electrodes 436 and 438. Due to the small size of the EV and its relatively high speed, the bandwidth of a EV oscilloscope relatively large. Single event waveforms can be analyzed when the transition times are in the range of 0.1 ps. Such a fast oscilloscope is an important tool in analyzing high speed effects obtained with the use of EVs. For such large bandwidths, as is possible with the "picoscope", it is necessary to compensate for the attenuators in the signal input circuits of the deflection electrodes 436 and 438. The use of microstructures. 8100190 - 67 in the manufacture of the EV scope avoids large signal time delays. The scope 424 and associated circuits should operate as close as possible to the electrical event to be measured, to avoid dispersion in the connection transmission lines. For an important part of the work in the range of an EV scope, the scope may be effectively embedded in the area generating the signal. The picoscope essentially becomes a "chip scope" and can practically be considered a disposable instrument.

1 o 16. Electron camera

As noted above, an electron camera can be used to observe the electron emissions of EVs moving over an EV oscilloscope, such as the picoscope 424 of Figures 39 and 40. Such an electron camera is indicated by 450 in Figures 41 and 42. The camera 450 includes a metal housing 452, which serves as electrical shielding against stray fields, which could otherwise affect charge manipulation within the housing. A small opening 454 is provided as an entrance to the housing 452, through which electrons, ions, neutral particles or photons can enter the housing, while shielding, for example, stray charge. A typical scale for the camera 454 is indicated by the size of 25 mm in Fig. 42. A normal lateral size of the opening 454 is about 50 µm.

A pair of deflection plates 456 and 458 are disposed within the housing 452 so that charged particles entering the opening 454 are directed between the deflection plates. Terminals 460 and 464 extend from deflection plates 30, 456 and 456 respectively. 458 through the wall of the housing 452 and are insulated therefrom by insulating shafts 462 and 452, respectively. 466. A combination of channel electron multiplier (OEM) and phosphor screen 468 is placed at the end of housing 452 opposite opening 454. Charged particles 35 strike the CEM, which produces a cascade effect, to obtain an enhanced charge impact on the screen, which illuminates to optically signal the original impact on the CEM opposite the highlight location on the screen. The construction and operation of such a combination of a CEM and a phosphor screen 468 are known and need not be described in further detail here.

The housing 452 is open at the phosphor screen, except for the optional addition of a conductive film to complete the shield formed by the housing, but which will not interfere with the light emission from the phosphor screen to the outside of the housing. Although not shown in the drawing, the CEM and the phosphor shield 468 are provided with appropriate terminals, through which certain voltages can be applied independently of the potential at which the housing 452 can be set, and by means of which a potential difference can be established between the CEM and the phosphor screen. This potential difference is usually 5 kV, while the amplification factor of the CEM is varied independently by adjusting its potential. Generally, the various parts of the camera 450, including the housing 452, can be set to any polarity and potential up to at least 5 kV. In addition to being able to supply different voltages to the housing 452, the CEM and the phosphor screen 468 and the electrodes 456 and 458, the camera can also be mounted to allow displacement and positioning relative to what is observed. For example, it may be necessary to move the camera in the longitudinal and / or side direction or to rotate the camera about one of its axes.

Charged particles, such as electrons, entering the aperture 454 can hit the CEM 468 at any point thereof, resulting in a bright plane being produced on the phosphor screen and being observed as an indication of an event. The deflector plates 456 and 458 are provided to allow, for example, to supply charge or energy or to be used in other measurements. Retardation potential methods, using, for example, the voltage on the CEM, can also be used in the analyzes. Such analysis techniques are known and need not be described here in detail.

For example, the camera 450 has many uses for EVs. In Fig. 41, an EV source 470 and an anode 8600190 - 69 - 472 are placed in front of the camera opening 454 so that EVs can be detached from the source and passed through an opening in the extraction anode. The EVs will meet the front of the camera 450 around the opening 454, which may consist of a molybdenum plate. A brass ring (not shown) may be positioned in front of the plate with the opening 454 to receive the EVs and prevent them from hitting the front face of the camera. A metal foil may be placed over the opening 454 to serve as a target. In another embodiment, the combination of the EV source 470 and the extractor 472 may be arranged at a different angle to the camera 450, for example, rotated through 90 ° relative to the embodiment of Fig. 41, so that generated EVs pass through the camera aperture 454, with the result that some electrons emitted by the passing EV can enter the camera aperture for sensing the EV propulsion.

Fig. 43 illustrates how the camera 450 can be used in conjunction with an EV oscilloscope, such as the picoscope 424 of FIG. 39. According to FIG. 43, the camera 450 may be oriented toward the active region H of the oscilloscope 424, the camera aperture being a short distance therefrom so that the electron emission from an EV used to track a signal on the active area of the scope can enter the camera through the camera aperture and through the CEM and the phosphor screen can be detected. For such an application of the camera, the deflector plates 456 and 458 can be held at, for example, ground potential, while the CEM is maintained at a sufficient voltage to accelerate the electrons emitted by an EV to strike the CEM. The lens system of a television camera 474 is directed to the light output side of the camera 450 according to the drawing. The CEM and the phosphor screen already provide an amplification of about 35 at the displayed camera 450. The total multiplication of the combination of the electron camera 450 and the television camera 474 can be further increased or amplified using the television system.

Fig. 44 shows yet another application of a. SS 0 019 0 - 70 -

* A

electron camera 450, in this case together with a second electron camera 450 ', arranged such that the longitudinal axes of the two cameras are mutually perpendicular and can lie in the same plane. In this way, the location of an EV moving in front of the two cameras can be determined in three dimensions. As shown in the drawing, the cameras 450 and 450 'are according to the x- and. y axis arranged of an orthogonal XYZ coordinate system, with the cameras looking near the origin of the coordinate system. Two sets of deflection electrodes, including electrodes 476 and 478, which are arranged opposite each other along the x axis and electrodes 480 and 482, which are also arranged opposite each other on a line perpendicular to the axis of the first pair of electrodes 476 and 478, ie along the y-axis, 15 may be arranged in the manner shown to selectively deflect an EV into the combined field of view of the cameras 450 and 450 '. The electrodes 476-482 can be thin wires, for example of the order of 0.5 mm in diameter, so that the wires 478 and 481, which are close to the cameras 450 and 20, respectively. 450 'before the respective cameras can be arranged without disturbing the line of sight of the cameras, i.e. the cameras look around the wire electrodes. Suitable connection lines of electrodes 476-482 make it possible to set them to desired potentials. In this way, as noted above when discussing an EV oscilloscope in Chapter 15, an EV oscilloscope operating in three dimensions can be constructed and performed with two electron cameras.

Fig. 44 also shows the use of a third electron-thrones camera 450 ", which, for example, is arranged along the z-axis to further observe the behavior of EVs in three dimensions together with the cameras 450 and 450". Field electrodes 484 and 486 are mounted on the z axis for deflecting EVs in this direction.

Two electron cameras can be arranged along the same line, such as the cameras 450 '' and 450 '*' in Fig. 44, which face each other along the z axis, so that, for example, doppler energy analyzes can be performed on electrons.

.8800190 - 71 - v. *

As was the case with the picoscope from Chapter 15, a suitable EV source with EV manipulation components can be used to input EVs into the observation fields of each of the cameras of Figure 44.

5 17. Multi-electrode sources

The separators, selectors and launchers described above are multi-electrode sources or EV generators designed for the specially described purposes; i.e., these devices include electrodes adjacent to a cathode and a single anode or counter electrode, which are used to generate EVs. Multi-electrode devices can also be used for other purposes. For certain applications, it may be necessary to maintain a fixed cathode anode potential difference 15 for EV generation, while nevertheless selectively controlling the production of EVs. This can be accomplished by adding a control electrode to form a triode. An embodiment of a triode source is indicated by 490 in Fig. 45. The triode 490 is made on a dielectric base 492 with an elongated guide groove 494, in which a planar cathode 496 is provided. An anode or counter electrode 498 is disposed on the side of the base opposite the cathode 496 and on the opposite end of the base. A control electrode 500 is also disposed on the side of the base 492 opposite the cathode 496, but closer to the end of the cathode than the anode 498. The control electrode 500 is disposed between the cathode 496 and the anode 498 so that the voltage of the control electrode can have a significant influence on the electric field at the emission end of the cathode, where the EVs are formed.

With fixed potentials for the cathode 496 and the anode 498, an EV at the cathode can be generated by supplying a positive pulse signal to the control electrode 500. There is a sharp threshold for realizing field emission at the cathode, the process that initiates EV generation. Therefore, a bias voltage can be supplied to the control electrode 500, adding a low voltage amplitude pulse 8800190 -> signal to generate EVs. In such a case, no direct current is drawn from the control electrode 500, but large alternating currents will be present at the pulse signal.

A triode works by increasing the cathode emission density to the critical point required to generate an EV. As with triodes in general, some interaction may occur between the control electrode 500 and the output of the source 490. The control electrode 500 must be driven hard enough to generate the first EV and a subsequent EV, due to the strong feedback effects, who seek to suppress the formation of EVs. A standard feedback reduces the gain of the generator at high frequencies, so that the control electrode cannot be brought to a sufficiently high positive potential to effect a subsequent EV generation. For example, when the control electrode voltage is increased in a positive direction to realize a first EV generation at the cathode 496, the capacitance of the combination of the control electrode and the anode 498 increases due to the presence of an EV, as well as the increase of the control electrode voltage. When the first EV formation begins, the influence of the control voltage is decreased due to the space charge. When the EV leaves the region of the control electrode 500 and approaches the region above the anode 498, there is a voltage with the control electrode which depends on the current potential of the anode and which prevents the increase of the control electrode potential for generating the next EV. This coupling can be reduced by adding another electrode to obtain a tetrode.

A planar tetrode source 510 is shown in Figures 46-48. A dielectric base 512 includes a guide groove 514 in which a planar cathode 516 is placed. On the opposite side of the base 512 and at the opposite end thereof, there is an anode or counter electrode 518. A control electrode 520, corresponding to the control electrode 500 of FIG. 45, is shown on the 8800190.

• V

Located opposite the cathode 546, the side of the base 512 crosses the guide groove 514 and lies in the longitudinal direction between the anode 518 and the cathode. Therefore, the control electrode 520 can be set and receive a pulse-5 signal to effect the generation of EVs at the cathode 516, as described for the triode source 490 of FIG. 45, even if the cathode and anode potentials kept constant.

A feedback electrode 522 is also provided on the side of the base 512 opposite the cathode 516. The feedback electrode 522 is placed close enough to the anode 518 to cause any coupling between the control electrode 520 and the anode to lose its value. As shown in Fig. 46, the feedback electrode 522 15 partially extends into a recess 524 in the side of the anode 518, so that the anode partially shields the feedback electrode from the control electrode 520 so that any unwanted coupling between the control electrode and the feedback electrode is minimized.

The tetrode 510 of Figures 46-48 can be fabricated using microlithographic film techniques.

The width of the EV guide groove 514 can be from about 1 to about 20 µm; therefore, optical or electron lithographic methods can be used for the manufacture of the tetrode. Usually alumina is used to make the dielectric base 512, while molybdenum can be the conductor material for the various electrodes. Other possible choices for materials are diamond-like carbon for the dielectric and titanium-30 carbide or graphite for the conductor. In general, any stable dielectric material and stable metallic conductor material can be used. The cathode 516 can be wetted with liquid metal as described above. However, with small structures in thermal equilibrium, there is the potential for dispersion of migrating metal in places other than cathode 516, so that the electrode configuration changes. Alternatively, the planar cathode 516 can be configured with a tip at the tip 526 to provide a sharp tip that contributes to the production of electrons from the field in the EV formation instead of S80 0190 s - 74. build on metal humidification to restore a cathode edge for EV production. Multi-electrode sources, such as the described triode 490 and tetrode 510, can operate in vacuum or at a selected gas pressure, as described above for other devices.

Multi-electrode sources are discussed in more detail in chapter 21 on field emission sources, where a working circuit for a tetro source is indicated.

The previously described triode devices, including the separators, selectors and launchers, may also be in tetrode form. While several multi-electrode generators are shown and described herein, other devices with two or more electrodes useful for different applications and for different purposes can also be adapted to EV technology. In general, techniques used in the operation of tubes can be effectively used in the various EV generation and manipulation devices.

18. Stakeless sources

In Fig. 49, yet another type of EV generator is indicated, which is indicated by 530. An approximately elongated dielectric envelope 532 includes three electrodes 534, 536, and 538 mounted on the outer surfaces of the envelope. The two electrodes 534 and 538 are disposed on opposite ends of the envelope 532, while the intermediate electrode 536 is disposed approximately one third of the distance between the electrodes 534 and 538 from the electrode 534. The end electrode 538 is an extractor electrode, which is used for manipulating EVs after their formation. The remaining electrodes 534 and 536 are used to form EVs. The intermediate electrode 536 is in the form of a ring electrode surrounding the envelope 532. In the illustrated embodiment, the ring electrode 536 is disposed on the outer wall of a constriction defining an internal opening 540 which divides the interior of the enclosure 532 into a forming chamber "8 E 0 01 9 0 - 75". 542 on the left and an operating or working chamber 544 on the right of Fig. 49. The end electrode 534 is located in the depression formed by an indentation in one end of the casing 532. The intermediate electrode 536 is therefore frusto-conical and the end electrode 534 is conical; the extractor electrode 538 is flat. The indentation and the constriction, on which the electrodes 534 resp. 536 are not necessary for forming EVs, but serve a different purpose, as described below. Although the working chamber 544 of the drawing is approximately twice the length of the forming chamber 542, the working chamber may be of almost any length.

When bipolar electrical energy, such as high frequency energy, is applied to the first and second electrodes 534, respectively. 536, which are mounted on the dielectric envelope 532, which contains a gas, EVs are formed within the forming chamber 542, although the external metal electrodes are isolated from the internal discharge. A cathode is used to generate the EVs, although the isolated first electrode 534 appears to be a "virtual cathode". Such electrodeless or insulated cathode EV production may be desirable under circumstances, for example, when there is a risk of damaging the electrodes by sputtering due to the high voltage discharge in EV production. For a given group of parameters, such as spacing, gas pressure and voltage, the discharge is particularly effective for producing and conducting EVs (as described, for example, in relation to gas and optical conductances), when the internal gas atomic number is high. For example, in the order of efficiency, argon is classified low; crypton is more efficient, xenon is the most efficient of the three, assuming spacing, pressure and stress conditions remain the same.

The propagation of EVs through the gas within the envelope 532 produces ion strands, as described above, which become visible as very thin, clear lines in the free gas or adhered to the envelope wall.

One or more EVs can follow their ion streak passing through one. 8800190 ί χ - 76 - previously propagated EV has been established. The first EV of such a series is propagated without charge balance; subsequent EVs moving along the same ion shell created by the first EV of the series do so with sustained charge balance. When multiple EVs propagate along the same string, the thickness of the ion shell increases.

The dielectric envelope 532 can normally be made of alumina and has an internal cross thickness of about 0.25 mm for operation at a peak voltage of 3 kV between the two forming electrodes 534 and 536, at an internal gas pressure of 0.1 A of xenon gas. With such parameters, the spacing between the forming electrodes 534 and 536 should be about 1 mm. The dielectric may be metalized with silver to form the electrodes 534-538.

The frusto-conical configuration of the first electrode 534 contributes to the stabilization of the position of the EV formation. The annular constriction provides the aperture 540 of approximately 5 x 10 mm for the other parameters mentioned above. The orifice 540 allows to operate at different pressures between the forming chamber 542 and the working chamber 544, when pumping appropriately to produce the differential pressure through gas-pressure connection lines (not shown), for example, decreases a reduced gas pressure in the operating chamber the conduction effect of the strings for easier selective manipulation of the EVs. EVs in the operating or load chamber can be controlled by supplying potentials of suitably variable amplitude or time function to the extractor electrode 538, as well as, for example, to other external electrodes (not shown) for useful manipulation of the EVs. For a given pumping speed, a larger pressure difference can be maintained across the orifice 540 with a narrower diameter of the orifice. The opening diameter -2 meters can be reduced to about 2.5 x 10 mm and still allow the passage of EVs. If the operating room gas pressure is sufficiently low, the EVs will propel without producing visible wisps as. SE D 01 9 0 - 77 ->. * "black" EVs. Furthermore, an electrodeless source can be manufactured with a small distance between the forming electrodes 534 and 536, whereby EVs can be generated at only a few hundred V. Moreover, the electrodeless source 5 can be planar.

19. Running golf components

An application for EVs generated within a dielectric envelope, such as by the source 530 of Fig. 49, is in a running wave circuit and especially in a traveling wave tube. Such a device provides a good coupling technique for exchanging energy from an EV with, for example, a conventional electrical circuit. Generally, an EV current manipulated by any of the described conduction, generating, or launching devices can be coupled for such energy exchange. In Fig. 50, for example, a traveling wave tube 550 is shown, which is provided with a launching device (approximately of the type according to Fig.

25) or cathode 552 for launching or generating EVs 20 within a cylindrical-symmetric EV guide tube 554, at the opposite end of which is an anode or collector electrode 556. A counter electrode ground plane 558 is disposed on the outside along the guide tube 554 and may partially surround the guide tube. The ground plane cannot completely surround tube 554, because such a construction will shield the exit of the electromagnetic radiation signal from the tube. Suitable mounting and sealing fittings 560 and 562 are provided for positioning the launcher or cathode 552, respectively.

30 the anode 556 at the opposite end of the guide tube 554.

A conductive wire coil 564 is disposed about the guide tube 554 and extends approximately between the launcher 552 and the anode 556 or just overlaps it. The coil 564 terminates in a load 566, which represents a suitable application, but must be matched to the impedance of the coil to minimize reflections. A pulse-shaped input signal can be applied to the launcher or cathode 552 through any current-limiting input resistor 568 provided. The input resistor 568 can be omitted if it dissipates too much energy for a particular application. EV energy, which is not used by the helix 564, is collected at the anode 556 and delivered to ground through a collector resistor 570. An output terminal 572 serves to connect a suitable detector, such as, for example, an oscilloscope, to monitor the waveform.

The speed of an EV is usually 1/10 of the speed of light or slightly greater, and this speed range compares favorably with the retardation range, which can be achieved by helical and tortuous retardation structures. For example, the length of the coil or helix 564 and from the EV path from the launcher or cathode 552 to the anode 556 may be about 39 cm, the helix being constructed to achieve a delay of about 16 ns at a helix impedance of about 200 ohms. The impedance and deceleration of the helix 564 is affected in part by the capacitive coupling to the ground plane 558. The inner diameter of the glass or ceramic tube 554 may be about 1 mm or less with an outer diameter of about 3 mm. An EV can be launched at a voltage of 1 kV (substantially -2 determined by the source) at a xenon gas pressure of 10 torr 25 to achieve, for example, a few kV output from the helix 564.

As an example, with a mercury-wetted copper wire as the cathode in place of the launcher 552, a xenon gas pressure of about -230 10 torr, an input pulse voltage of 600 ns width at 1 kV with a firing rate of 100 pulses per s printed through an input resistance 568 of 1500 ohms and at an anode voltage of zero V and a load 570 of 50 ohms, an output voltage of -2 kV was reached on a delay line 35 564 of 200 ohms and an output voltage in the target 556 of -60 Q. A faint violet glow was generated within the tube 554, and when a positive input voltage was applied to the anode 556, visible EV strands were created over the last cm of the path of the EV just before striking the anode.

.8800190 - 79 -

The wave shape generated in the helix 564 is a function of the gas pressure. In general, a sharp negative pulse of about 16 ns duration was produced at the above parameters, followed by a flat pulse of length, which was linearly dependent on the gas pressure and which could be varied from substantially zero at preferred conditions from minimum gas pressure to one ms. The input pulse repetition rate can be lowered for such high gas pressures to allow removal of ions within the tube 10 between the pulses to adapt to the long output pulse. The magnitude of the negative pulse increased with decreasing gas pressure. At minimal gas pressure, only a sharp negative pulse of about 15 ns width was obtained.

A planar traveling wave circuit is indicated at 580 in Fig. 51 and can be made of film material using lithographic techniques. A dielectric base 582 includes a guide channel 582 that includes a collector or anode 586. EVs are introduced through a launcher or other suitable device at the left end of the guide groove 584 and are further held within the guide groove using a counter electrode (not visible) on the opposite side of the base 582.

A serpentine conductor 588 is disposed on the bottom side of the base 582 below the guide groove 414 and terminates in a load resistor or other type of load 590 if desired. When EVs are launched into and guided through groove 584, energy is transferred from the EVs to conductor 588 and supplied to load 590. The residual EV energy is absorbed at anode 586, which may be connected to a ground resistor, detector or other load. Although not shown, it is preferable to have a counter electrode under the winding conductor separated therefrom by a dielectric layer to achieve reasonable line impedance and reduce radiation, also including a dielectric or separating layer between the groove and the winding conductor.

As an alternative to placing the conductor 8800190 - 80 - conductor 588 on the bottom of the base 582 opposite the guide groove 584, the groove may be covered with a dielectric and the conductor 588 may be placed on the dielectric cover positioned so that it overlaps the groove. Without such a dielectric coating between the groove 584 and the overlying conductor, a counter electrode must be applied to the bottom side of the base 584 below the conduction groove to prevent EVs from moving towards the conductor. With such an embodiment, electrons emitted during EV propagation through the guide groove 584 can be collected on the conductor for additional energy transfer.

Running wave tubes or circuits, as shown, for example, in Figs. 50 and 51, therefore provide a technique for converting EV energy into energy that can be passed through conventional electrical circuits. With such techniques, electromagnetic radiation from the microwave region to visible light can be generated by EV pulses and coupled to conventional electrical circuits by optionally setting the transmission line parameters and the EV generating energy.

20. Pulse generator

An EV is characterized by a large negative electric charge, which is concentrated in a small volume and moves at a relatively high speed, so that an EV

or EV chain can be used to generate a high voltage pulse with fast rise and fall times. For example, any of the EV generating devices described herein may be used in conjunction with a selector as shown in Figs. 26 or 27 to obtain the desired charge structure to provide EVs at a capture electrode, thereby reducing the high charge density of an EV is converted into an electromagnetic pulse with the desired total 14 pulse shape. A switching or pulse rise rate of up to about 10 11 35 s can be obtained when an EV bead of 1 µm with 10 elementary charges and a speed of 0.1 times the speed of light is captured on an electrode system designed for the desired bandwidth . The voltage generated .8800190 - 81 - ,, t depends on the impedance of the circuit that captures the EVs, but will usually be in the range of a few kV.

A pulse generator is indicated at 600 in Fig. 52 and includes a cylindrical-symmetrical selector 5 602. A conical tip cathode 604 wetted with conductive material is disposed within a dielectric base 606 of the selector and faces an opening 608 thereof. . A generator anode 610 covers the outer surface of the dielectric base 606 and an extractor electrode 612 is located a short distance from the opening of the base. An approximately cylindrical conductive shield 614 surrounds the selector 602 and is closed by a dielectric disc 616 on which the extractor electrode 612 is mounted. An annular ring-type conductive metal coating forms a conductive terminal 618 on the side of the disc 616 facing the shield 614 and makes electrical contact with the shield.

A load resistor 62Q, formed by a resistive coating, covers the annular surface area between the extractor electrode 612 and the ring conductor 618, so that the selector 602 is almost completely surrounded by a shield, in order to limit electric stray fields and to protect current paths with minimal inductance can complete. The total size of the pulse generator can be about 0.5 cm.

The outside of the dielectric disk 616, which is also shown in Fig. 53, is practically a mirror image of the inside and includes a circular output electrode 622, which is connected to an annular ring electrode 624 by a resistive coating 626, the The shape and dimensions of the external electrodes 622 and 624 are substantially the same as that of the internal electrodes 612 and 6, respectively. 618. The output electrode 622 is therefore capacitively coupled to the extraetor electrode 612, so that entrapment of the relatively high charge of an EV 35 or EV chain by the extraetor electrode produces a correspondingly high negative charge on the output electrode.

For initiating EV production, a suitable negative pulse can be applied to the cathode 604 through an input terminal 628, grounding the anode .8800190 * - 82 - 610 at a relatively small positive potential through a terminal 630 passing through a suitable opening 632 in the shield 614. A stronger positive extractor voltage is applied to the extractor-5 electrode 612 through a terminal 634 on the shield 614, which is connected to the extractor electrode by the conductive ring 618 and the internal resistance coating 620. When an EV is generated and the selector 602 exits and is captured by the extractor electrode 612, the potential of the extractor electrode is rapidly decreased and increases as the EV charge is spread through the resistive coating 620 and shield 614 and finally through the terminal 634. The extractor voltage applied to the extractor electrode 612 is variable so that only 15 certain EVs can be taken from selector 602 to form the desired output pulses. A bias voltage can be applied to the output electrode 622 through a terminal 636 connected to the ring conductor 624 and through the resistive coating 626 to the output electrode.

Generally, for fast pulse times, small parts with low reactance are used with a minimum distance between the various circuit elements. The approximate distance of the EV from the selector 602 to the extractor electrode 612 and the charge of the EV determine the rise time of the negative pulse on the output electrode 622. The RC constant or resistance of the load resistor 620 determines the pulse fall time. Output pulses with a minimum rise -13 and fall time of 10 s can be obtained with the "pico-pulser" 600 with a maximum external diameter of about 0.5 cm. The load resistor 620 usually has a value of at least -3 ohms (and may be 10 ohms) and can be obtained by means of a thin metal coating on the surface of the dielectric disk 616, which is, for example, from a ceramic material may exist.

A corresponding resistive coating can be used for the resistor 626 to obtain the output coupling and bypass capacitor operation. For example, the output resistor 626 determines the bias on loads. When DC current is drawn from the output, the .8800190 - 83 -, output pulse decay times can be varied by varying the output resistance coating 626, providing longer pulse decay times by increasing the resistance value of the coating, for example, 5 thick film making techniques can be used. An operating voltage of up to 8 kV for different settings can be obtained with proper attention to the finish of the metal conductive cladding rings 618 and 624. The level of the output pulse can be varied by selectively varying the attenuation factor in the terminal 622 connected load circuit.

The picopulser 600 therefore provides a technique for achieving very fast and large voltage pulses by generating EVs or EV chains. For optimal operation, pulse generator 600 should operate in vacuum.

21. Field emission sources

The principle requirement for generating an EV is to quickly concentrate a very high, uncompensated electric charge into a small volume. Such an operation requires an emission process, which is linked to a fast switching process. In the various gaseous EV generators described above, the switching process is obtained by non-linear action of gas ionization and possible some electrical propulsion influences. The gas switching process works even at sources using liquid metal wetted cathodes once the base field emission process liberates metal vapor from the cathode region by thermal evaporation and ion bombardment. Pure field emission generation of EVs can be achieved by eliminating all gas and migrating material from the EV generator system.

To achieve such field emission generation, rapid switching must be provided and coupled to the field emitter so that the emission process can be turned on and then turned off before the emitter is heated to the evaporation point by the electrical conduction.

EVs are generated by a field emission cathode, which operates in the emission density range beyond what is normally used in other field emission devices, by the .8800190. * - 84 - Emitter can be switched on and off very quickly with a pulse signal, i.e. faster than the thermal time constant of the cathode, preventing thermal destruction of the emitter. Since the thermal time constant of the emitter 5 is usually less than 1 ps, the resulting required short switching times for potentials in the range of hundreds of V can be obtained by using EV-operated switching units, such as the pulse generator 600 of FIG. 52 and 53.

An EV field emission source is indicated at 650 in Fig. 54 and is designed in the same manner and operates in the same manner as pulse generator 600 of Figs. 52 and 63, however, the pulse emission electrode 652 of the field emission source is a pointed emitter 654 projecting from the otherwise disc-shaped electrode. A suitable voltage pulse signal is applied to cathode 656 and anode 658 of separator 660 to generate EVs and a selected extractor voltage is supplied to extractor electrode 662 to attract EV. Capturing the EV by the extractor electrode 662 produces a rapidly rising negative pulse on the output electrode 652, so that a strong field is concentrated at the tip of the emitter 654. The resulting field effect at the tip of the emitter 654 produces one or more EVs by pure field emission, the field emission source operating in vacuum. The negative pulse generated by an EV on the output electrode 652 must also have a short fall time so that the pulse is extinguished before the emitter 654 is damaged as the pulse decreases. The resistive coating 664 on the extractor electrode side of the disc 666 may have a resistance value -2 of about 10 ohms and the resistive coating 668 g on the field emitter side a resistance of about 10 ohms.

For example, an EV conductor 670 with the approximately cylindrical construction of Figure 15 is arranged to receive EVs that are launched by emitter 654 to supply them to any desired load.

The field emission generator 650 can be used to form EVs while simultaneously testing the field emission cathode 654 for damage, in order to optimize the forming process to minimize the damage. A phosphor screen or a witness plate (not shown) may be suitably arranged to receive EVs generated at the emitter 654. The picopulser is turned off and a bias voltage is applied through line 672 to imprint a DC voltage on emitter 654 to generate a DC field emission therefrom. Although the bias voltage supplied through line 672 is usually negative 10, it can be positive if the EV of the cathode 656 is produced at a voltage greater than 2 kV. Then, the emission pattern on the adjacent phosphor screen or the witness plate can be analyzed along with the value of the bias DC voltage and the current to the emitter 15654 to determine the cathode radius, crystallographic status and other morphological properties immediately after the EV generation. Such methods of analysis for field emission surfaces are generally known.

The peak voltage of the picopulser used to drive the field emitter 654 can be determined by varying the bias voltage through line 672 to neutralize the pulse voltage at the cathode 656. In this manner, the field emitter 654 is used as a very fast rectifier or detector for measuring the pulse peak on the cathode 654. To examine the properties of the produced EVs, a smooth metal film or foil, such as a witness plate, can be placed in front of an anode (not shown in front of the emitter 654 and connected to this anode. A distance of 30 to 1 mm between the emitter 654 and such an anode can be used in vacuum when the system is operating at about 2 kV. The impact mark leaving the EV on the witness plate can be analyzed in a scanning electron microscope to determine the number of EV-35 beads formed and their arrival pattern. Many high speed effects can be investigated with the generator 650 of Fig. 54.

If the pulse generator output is kept low in voltage and a sensitive detector is used to detect the emission from the field emitter .8800190 - 86 - 654, it is possible to effectively measure a very short pulse voltage amplitude by a substitution technique with using the fast rectifying property of the field emitter.

The bias voltage supplied through line 672 replaces the pulse voltage.

At high levels of the pulse voltage far in the region normally considered to be the space charge saturation region for a field emitter, the emitter 654 generates beams of electrons similar to EVs, such as is detected on a nearby witness plate.

These small EVs are in principle very useful for specialized computer-like applications with charge control.

The field emission generator 650 of Fig. 54 is an example of one of the possibilities in which relatively large parts can be used to achieve the necessary switching speeds to achieve pure EV emission production. For practical applications, it may be desirable to use a complete system of 20 compatible micro components to manufacture the switch and launch devices. Moreover, given the small dimensions and relatively high required voltages, more practical devices for using and generating EVs, which are formed by relatively pure field emission, can be manufactured using micro-fabrication techniques.

Fig. 55 shows a microcircuit using thin film techniques to produce a complete system for producing EVs by field emission, without using external EV generators or bulky parts, which could make high operating speeds difficult. Here, the switching process is carried out by feedback on a time scale, which is compatible with the thermal processes in the EV generator, i.e.

The switching speed is equal to or preferably greater than thermal time constants and thermal processes. It is necessary to turn the emitter on and off in less than 1 ps to avoid destruction of the cathode.

The field emission source 680 of Fig. 55 corresponds in construction to the tetro source 510 of .8800190 - 87 - Figs. 46-48. A dielectric base 682 has an elongated groove 684, which may have an approximately rectangular cross-section, in which is placed a linear cathode source 686 which operates without wetting with a metal coating. A counter electrode 688 is disposed on the opposite side of the groove 684 from the base 682 and at the end opposite the cathode 686. The counter electrode 688 is located under a portion of the guide groove 684. A control electrode 690 is on the same side of the base 682 as the counter electrode 688 and extends from a side edge of the base to a location below the groove 684 and crosses the groove 684 between the ends of the cathode 686 and the counter electrode. A feedback electrode 692 is also mounted on this side of the base 682 and extends laterally across the bottom of the base to the end of the counter electrode 688 closest to the cathode. A leg 694 of the feedback electrode 692 extends along a recess 696 of the counter electrode 688, allowing the feedback electrode to cooperate with an generated EV during the advancement of the EV through the guide groove 684 along the length of the electrode leg 694.

Fig. 56 shows a scheme 700 of the field emission source 680 of FIG. 55 and associated equipment for triggering the field emission production of EVfs. An energy storage device 702 is connected to the cathode 686 and is supplied with a suitable negative potential through a line 704. The passive energy source 702 may be a capacitor or a strip delay line, as used, for example, in pulse radar systems with hydrogen thyratron, with a resistance - or capacitor power supply. The generator power source 702 usually supplies a negative pulse of 1 ps when discharged by the potential change on the control electrode 690. Otherwise, a constant potential can be applied between the cathode 686 and the counter electrode 688.

A phase inverting air core pulse transformer 706 is optionally controlled by a starting pulse through a line 708 for supplying a positive control bias voltage, which is supplied through a line .8800190 - 88 - 710, to the control electrode 690 to initiate the field emission generation at the cathode 686. The feedback signal, which is necessary for sustaining the emission, after the start pulse is removed and until the stored energy in the power source 702 is exhausted, is provided by the transformer 706 by means of the feedback electrode 692.

The field emitters such as 654 and 686 used in the pure field emission sources such as those described should be made of a relatively stable material with respect to the thermal and ion sputtering damage. For example, metal carbides, such as titanium carbide and graphite, have the properties for making good cathodes. Furthermore, the dielectric material should have high stability and high dielectric field strength. Aluminum oxide and diamond-like carbon films have such properties. Since there is no automatic recovery process available for the cathodes, such as with liquid metal wetted sources, it is desirable to apply very high vacuum to the emitters to avoid damage thereof by ion bombardment or modification of the surface work function.

In particular, factors prevent the use of large sized pure field emitters. The critical limit appears to be about 1 µm for the lateral size of a type 686 emitter of FIG. 55. For cathodes above such a size, the stored energy from the associated circuit causes an excessive thermal stress on the small emitter surface during the emission. Below the size of 1 µm, the field emitter has the advantage of strong cooling influences because small elements have a high surface to volume ratio.

22. X-ray source EVs can be used to generate X-rays. An X-ray generator or source is shown in FIG.

57 denoted by 720 and comprises a mercury-wetted copper type cathode 722, as shown in FIG. 4, and a separator 724, which is equipped with a counter electrode 726, as shown in FIG. 8, which is so relative. 880 01 9 0 - 89 - of an anode 728 is positioned to generate EVs with optional EV chains and propagate from the cathode through the separator opening to the anode.

It has been found that stopping an EV 5 on a material target or anode is accompanied by a flash of light from the plasma produced and leaves a crater due to the dissolution of the EV and associated energy consumption. Part of the energy consumed is dissipated in the form of X-ray production. The X-ray source itself within the target 728 is as small as the EV, i.e., in the range of a lateral size of 1 to 20 µm, depending on how the EV was originally made or selected. The small source of X-rays has a relatively high production efficiency and intensity, resulting in a high X-ray output total compared to the input energy.

This phenomenon indicates intense X-ray production in the disintegration of the ordered EV structure, possibly due to the sudden disintegration of the strong magnetic field generated by the electron movement within the EV.

The output of the cathode 722 and the separator 724 strikes the anode target 728, thereby generating an X-ray emission, as shown schematically in FIG. 57. The material of the target 728 has a sufficiently low inductance for the EV to break effectively. A low atomic number material, such as graphite, minimizes damage from EV disintegration and easily transmits X-rays produced at the exit side of target 728. The X-ray source 720 can operate in vacuum or at a late pressure gas. For example, in a single torr xenon gas environment, the cathode 722 and the separator 724 can lie up to about 60 cm from the anode target 728, providing a 2 kV pulse signal to the cathode to produce EVs. Analysis of the output total X-rays from the source 720 can be accomplished using known techniques, such as with filters, photographic film or wavelength dispersion spectrometers. To .8800190 * i.

- 90 - since the X-ray photons are all generated approximately at the same time, energy dispersion spectrometers cannot analyze the spectral energy content of the X-ray output rays.

The present invention therefore provides an X-ray generator or source, which can be used as a point source of X-rays for use, for example, in still motion X-ray photography. The X-ray generator according to the invention can furthermore be used in a wide range of other X-ray applications.

23. Electron source EVs, which move along a conductor, will usually cause the emission of electrons, which can be collected on a collector electrode, for example.

For example, in the case of RC conductors, it is possible to collect the electron emission from the top of the conductive groove, if the groove is sufficiently deep and the EV is adhered sufficiently strongly to the bottom of the conductive groove or at least to the counter electrode on the opposite side of the dielectric base of the conduction. The electrons emitted in this way come from secondary and field emission sources, which are produced by the energy of the passing EV. Since these electrons are from a dielectric material with relatively long RC time constants for recharge, it is necessary to wait for recharge before another EV can occupy the region and thereby generate further electron energy. With the LC type conductors, this time delay is relatively short, since recharging takes place via metal electrodes. Electrodes can be collected for a DC output signal by simply applying a collector electrode, since the emitted electrodes were supplied with an initial energy by the EV.

In the case of LC conductors, any of the electrodes 35 from the conductive structures of FIGS. 20 or 21 can be used as a collector electrode.

The property of an EV, which can cause electron emission, allows the EV to be used effectively as a cathode for various applications. 8800190 - 91 - solutions. An appropriately stimulated EV can be emitted from a relatively narrow band of electron energies. The main consideration for using this type of cathode is to determine the average energy and the energy distribution of the emitted electrons. There is also a "chopper" effect that results from a certain spacing between the EVs that move along a conduction and cause electron emission. The frequency range usually ranges from substantially constant emission from a practically continuous series of EVs to a strong pulse-shaped emission when passing a single EV or EV chain under an opening. Accordingly, the nature of the EV propulsion as well as the conduction structure through which the EVs move must be appropriately selected according to the electron emission application.

A gated electron emission source is indicated by 740 in Fig. 58 and can be part of a triode-shaped structure. An RC-EV lead 742 has a guide groove 744 and an invisible counter electrode on the bottom of the lead base opposite the groove, substantially similar to the EV lead of FIG. 11. A dielectric plate 746 is directly on the base of the guide 742. The plate 746 has openings 748 which overlap the guide groove 744 and are coated with metal coatings 750 which serve as gate electrodes. A third element, not shown, may be an anode or the like disposed above the dielectric plate 746 to receive or collect the emitted electrons; the exact nature of the third element is determined by the use for which the electron emission is intended.

During operation, one or more EVs are launched or otherwise propagated in the guide groove 744, as indicated by the arrow I. As described above, secondary or field emission effects, which accompany the passage of the EV through the conduction groove 744, result in an electron emission which can propagate from the conduction groove, as indicated by the arrow J, the electrons being initial propagation energy was given in their formation due to the onset.

.8800190 · »j.

- 92 - absence of EV. In general, the emitted electrons can be further attracted to the third part, such as an anode not shown. However, the electron advancement to the third part is optionally controlled by supplying suitable potentials to the control electrodes 750. Generally, the potential supplied to a control electrode 750 will always be negative with respect to the cathode used to generate the EVs. The gate or opening 748 in the dielectric tricum 746 can in any case be opened or closed to passing electrons by choosing the determined potential on the associated control electrode 750. Before closing the gate 748, the potential on the control electrode 750 becomes made more negative, so that no electron-emission through the gate will take place. Before opening the gate 748, the potential on the control electrode 750 is made less negative, i.e., relative to the cathode to generate the EVs and an electron emission through the gate becomes possible.

When an EV moves through the guide groove 744, the electron emission is caused. However, the electrons can all pass through the dielectric plate 746 to the third electrode at the passages 748. Consequently, an EV moving through the guide groove 744 causes electron pulses to be emitted by the dielectric plate 746, the pulses occurring at the passages 748. Furthermore, a given electron transmission pass 748 can be closed by applying the correct potential to the associated control electrode 750. Therefore, a selective pattern of electron emission pulses can be obtained by suitably applying potentials to the control electrodes 750 to deliver. The pulse pattern can be further varied by moving a train of EVs or EV chains through the guide groove 744 to obtain, for example, an elongated pattern of electron emission pulses along the series of gates 748, the potentials on the various control electrodes 750 themselves varying over time. . Therefore, the electron emission pattern can be varied widely by selection of the .8800190 - 93 * * EV propulsion and modulation of the potentials on the control electrodes 750.

To prevent the EV from energizing one of the ports 748 itself, the groove 744 should be kept sufficiently deep or alternatively a spacer (not shown) may be placed between the plate 746 and the base of the guide 742.

It will be appreciated that any desired pattern of electron emission gates 748 can be used in conjunction with suitable EV conduction mechanisms. The number and position of the gates 748 along the length of the guide groove 744 can also be varied to determine the electron emission pattern. The electron emission ports 748 can also be through bores in a dielectric plate, which completely surrounds each gate, for example. In this case, the control electrodes 750 can also coat the gate walls on all sides.

Generally, any type of EV generator, which provides the desired EV output for the particular application, can be used to provide the EVs for electron emission. Usually, a version of the electrodeless source of Fig. 49 operating at low gas pressure can be used. The inert gas pressure in the system may be in the -3 range of 10 torr and will be balanced throughout the system.

Electron propagation electron emission using one of the devices described herein, such as the gated electron source 740 of Fig. 58, can find various applications. For example, various devices, which have hitherto been impractical due to the prior art failure to provide a cathode with sufficient emission density, can now be used using an electron source generated by EVs as described herein. Such a type of devices, such as the beam deflection, free electron device, for example, can be provided using a gated electron source of the type shown in Fig. 58.

24. High frequency source

The passage of EVs through the LC guides .8800190 »j - 94 - of FIGS. 20 and 21 generates high frequency fields within the guides, but the interaction with such fields is used for conducting the EVs and not utilizing them from external radiation. However, high frequencies generated by passing an EV can be decoupled from an EV conductor and made available for external use.

Fig. 59 shows a general form of a high-frequency source or generator 760. A dielectric base 762 10 has an elongated guide groove 764, which provides a guide structure for EVs entering the groove, as indicated by the arrow K. A counter electrode 766, which may be disposed on the underside of the dielectric base 762, includes a series of slots 768. The high-frequency production involves a charge-induced field on the counter electrode 766. The results are very strong if the counter electrode is slotted. A second electrode in the form of a collector 770 is placed under the counter electrode 766 and spread therefrom by a dielectric tricum. The latter dielectric can be a space or a layer of dielectric material (not shown). The collector 770 has a series of arms or extensions 772, each such extension being placed directly below one of the slots 768 of the counter electrode. As EVs move through the conduit channel 764, the counter electrode slots 768 provide openings to couple the charge of the EVs to the collector 770 in which the high frequency field is produced. The high frequency energy can be taken from the collector 770 by any suitable circuit or further radiation system.

There is a reciprocal relationship between the EV speed through the conduction channel 764 and the output cavities 668 in conjunction with the collector electrode arms 772, which determines the frequency of the radiation delivered. The radiation produced is equal to the speed of the EV multiplied by the inverse value of the spacing between the slots 768.

It is noted that the shape of the openings 768 in the counter electrode 766 determines the waveforms to be produced. Periodic waveforms, which can be used for controlling various computer or timing functions, can be generated with the structure of Fig. 59 by appropriately forming the counter electrode openings 768.

The load on the collector electrode 770 5 must be measured according to the bandwidth of the generated waveform. For low frequencies, the output of the collector electrode 770 should be connected to a resistive termination transmission line at its characteristic impedance. The speed of the EVs in the guide groove 764 10 can be recorded in synchronous motion using high frequency injection or interaction, as discussed above with the LC guides. Such a synchronization helps to control the periodic frequency of the output pulses of the collector electrode 15 770.

The waveform generator of Fig. 59 can provide pulses of positive or negative polarity by differentiating the EV charge as the EV passes through the slot 768 in the counter electrode 766. A high impedance load on the output of the collector electrode 770 produces essentially negative pulses. However, a low impedance load of the counter electrode 770 results in the production of first a negative pulse and then a positive one.

This pulse shape is useful for generating positive waveforms, which are used to drive field emission devices in the emitting state, as an example of a possible use of EVs for generating electromagnetic energy.

25. Claim 30 The present invention provides techniques for generating, isolating, manipulating and exploiting EVs, in the form of individual EV beads or as EV chains. EV generation and propagation control has many applications, some of which have been described above. The traveling EVs themselves are sources of energy, including electromagnetic energy in the high-frequency range, which is available using a high-frequency EV source, as shown in Fig. 59, or a traveling wave device, as shown in Fig. 50 or. 8800190 *, - 96 - 51. The emission of electrons, which is accompanied by an EV propulsion over, for example, a dielectric surface, makes it possible to treat the advancing EV's as a virtual cathode, for example using the EV source 5 of fig. 58. By appropriate selection of the gate pattern in such an electron source, a range of applications become available, for example, where concentrated electron beams are required. The picoscope described above also uses electron emission in the EV propagation to provide a miniature oscilloscope with fast response for the analysis of, for example, electrical signals. Likewise, the picopulser of Fig. 52 utilizes the rapid transfer of large electrical charges to produce high voltage pulses with rapid rise and fall times. Such fast pulses have a variety of applications, including operating pure field emission devices such as the EV generator of FIG. 54.

The ability to produce and selectively manipulate EVs provides a new electrical technology with several highly desirable capabilities.

In general, the components of this technology are extremely small and can operate over a wide range of applied voltages. As noted, the operations performed with the EV technology are very fast and include the rapid transfer of large energy concentrations in the form of the EVs. The various generators, launchers, conductors, separators, selectors and splitting elements are, for example, analogous to vacuum tubes, transistors and the like from the electronic art.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that the various devices described can be combined to suit a particular application. For example, a generator of the various generators described can be used with one or more conducting devices for supplying the EVs used, for example, in a picoscope. An EV generator can be combined with guides and one or more splitting elements and / or one or more switches to provide multiple, Sft 0 01 9 0 - 97 -. * multiple EV paths, which in the case of the switches can be selected for EV propulsion. An EV generator can be combined with conductors and one or more pico pulsers to provide pulse output signals at desired locations and using a variable splitting element time delay arm, as shown in Fig. 33, to provide of a time-variable pulse signal. Likewise, each of the energy converting devices, such as the traveling wave circuits of FIG.

50 and 51 or the high-frequency source of Fig. 59 or the electron emission source of Fig. 58 are combined with the various other EV manipulation parts, such as conductors, splitting elements and switches. Furthermore, it will be appreciated that EV selectors, separators and launchers can suitably be used to deliver EV1s of the desired charge size that are launched into a particular conductor or other device and free from plasma discharge contaminants. The electron camera itself is useful in the analyzes of the EV behavior itself as well as in 20 other analyzes, including the analysis of time-varying electric fields by combination with the picoscope or, for example, the more dimensional scope series from Fig. 34.

The invention is therefore not limited to the above-described embodiments, which can be varied in a number of ways within the scope of the invention.

8800130

Claims (148)

1. Discrete, negatively charged, self-contained or independent electron beam. 2. Beam of electrons according to claim 1, characterized in that the independence of the beam of electrons is a function of electromagnetic fields existing between these electrons. 3. Discrete, negatively charged matter state, usually uncompensated by positive ions, which has a charge density corresponding to the average charge density of a solid. Material state according to claim 3, characterized in that the charge density is of the order of 3 electron charges / cm. 5. Discrete, negatively charged, independent beam of electrons, which beam of electrons is generated by applying an electric field between a cathode and an anode. 6. An EV. 7. A chain of EVs. 8. An EV chain, generated by applying an electric field between a cathode and an anode. System for generating EVs, characterized by means for generating an electric discharge comprising EVs and one or more particles selected from the group consisting of positive ions, negative ions, electrons, neutral particles and photons, and combinations thereof, and by means for separating the EVs from these particles. 10. Device for generating EVs, characterized by a conductive cathode and a second conductive electrode separated from the cathode. 11. Device according to claim 10, characterized by an approximately flat dielectric material 35 between the cathode and the second conductive electrode, the cathode comprising a pointed metal element, which points to one side of the 8800130 - 99 - dielectric material is oriented, while the second electrode comprises a planar element disposed on the side of the dielectric material opposite the cathode. 12. Device according to claim 11, characterized in that the pointed cathode has an approximately conical end which is wetted with conductive material. 13. Device according to claim 12, characterized by a reservoir for the metallic material for moistening the conical cathode end. Device according to claim 10, characterized by approximately flat dielectric material 15 between the cathode and the second electrode, the cathode comprising a planar cathode on one side of the dielectric material and the second electrode on the opposite side of the dielectric material has been applied. 15. Device as claimed in claim 14, characterized by a separator, comprising a dielectric element placed above the planar cathode on the dielectric material and a third conductive electrode on the dielectric element, which extends to the approximately flat dielectric material. 16. Device according to claim 14, characterized by an at least partly closed structure as part of the dielectric material, within which the planar cathode is placed and which serves for receiving and guiding the EVs. Device according to claim 16, characterized in that the guiding structure comprises an approximately elongated structure, which defines an at least partially closed guiding path for the EVs. Device according to claim 17, characterized by a cover of dielectric material, which at least partly covers the elongated casing. 19. Device according to claim 17, characterized in that the device for generating EVs is part of a selector, which further comprises a. A second approximately elongated guide structure, which comprises the first conductive structure cuts at an acute angle between the cathode and the second electrode; b. a third conductive electrode placed along the second conductive structure; and c. at least one extractor electrode arranged substantially along the first guide structure on the opposite side of the cathode from the intersection; d. wherein a voltage supplied to the third electrode attracts EVs there and a voltage supplied to the at least one extractor electrode advances selected EVs along the first conductor structure beyond the intersection. A device according to claim 14, characterized in that the cathode is provided with a substructure material wetting a conductive material. 21. Device as claimed in claim 14, characterized in that the EVs are generated by field emission without electron emission. 22. The device of claim 14, further characterized by a control electrode between the cathode and the second electrode on the same side of the dielectric material as the second electrode. Device as claimed in claim 22, characterized in that the cathode is provided with conductive material wetting substructure material. 24. Device according to claim 22, characterized by an at least partially enclosed structure as part of the dielectric material, within which the planar cathode is arranged and which serves to receive and guide the EVs. 25. Device according to claim 22, characterized by a feedback electrode which is arranged in the vicinity of the second electrode. 26. Device according to claim 25, characterized in that the cathode is provided with conductive material wetting substructure material. 27. Device according to claim 25, characterized in that the EVs are generated by field emission 5 without electron emission. 28. An apparatus according to claim 27, characterized by an at least partially enclosed structure as part of the dielectric material, within which the planar cathode is disposed and which serves to receive and guide the EVs. 29. Device according to claim 25, characterized by an at least partially enclosed structure as part of the dielectric material, within which the planar cathode is arranged and which serves to receive and guide the EVs. 30. An apparatus according to claim 10, characterized in that the cathode and the second electrode are separated by an open space, wherein an enclosure of the space is arranged for controlling the internal environment. Device according to claim 30, characterized in that the enclosure of the space comprises a tube. 32. An apparatus according to claim 30, characterized in that the environment comprises a gas at low pressure. 33. Device according to claim 30, characterized in that the environment comprises an at least partial vacuum. 34. An apparatus according to claim 30, characterized in that the cathode has a substantially cylindrical structure with a real sharp end. 35. An apparatus according to claim 34, characterized in that the cathode is wetted by conductive material from a reservoir for such material. 36. An apparatus according to claim 35, characterized in that the cathode structure is substantially tubular, the wall of the tubular structure tapering to a sharp circular shape end, the reservoir being within the tubular structure. and the conductive material wets the interior of the cathode. 37. An apparatus according to claim 35, characterized in that the cathode has a conical end defining the relatively sharp end, the cathode being surrounded by an annular space defining surface forming the reservoir. 38. Device according to claim 10, characterized in that the cathode and the second electrode are separated by an open space, the cathode comprising a cylindrical-symmetrical element with a conical end, which tapers out relatively sharply, whereby a dielectric the approximately tubular element at least partially surrounds the cathode and provides an opening between the cathode end and the second electrode, a third electrode of the conductive material surrounding the path between the cathode end and the opening and separated therefrom by the dielectric material of the 20 element. 39. An apparatus according to claim 10, characterized in that the cathode is provided with conductive material wetting substructure material. 40. An apparatus according to claim 39, characterized in that the cathode is substantially planar. An apparatus according to claim 39, characterized in that the cathode has an approximately cylindrical structure with a conical end that tapers relatively sharply. An apparatus according to claim 41, characterized by a surface approximately surrounding the cathode to form an annular space between said surface and the cathode defining a reservoir for the conductive material. An apparatus according to claim 39, characterized in that the cathode further comprises an approximately tubular structure, the wall of the tubular construction tapering, so that a relatively sharp 6800 end in the form of a circle is determined. 44. An apparatus according to claim 43, characterized in that the interior of the tube structure provides a reservoir for the conductive material, thus wetting the interior of the cathode. An apparatus according to claim 10, characterized in that the apparatus is located in a low pressure gas environment. 46. Device according to claim 10, characterized in that the device is in at least partial vacuum. 47. Device according to claim 10, characterized by a casing of dielectric material, wherein the cathode and the second electrode are disposed outside the casing, whereby EVs are generated inside the casing. 48. Device according to claim 47, characterized by an opening within the enclosure, which partially defines two chambers within the enclosure for obtaining an impressionable environment within each chamber. 49. An apparatus according to claim 48, characterized in that the second electrode at least partially surrounds the envelope at least approximately at the location of the opening. 50. An apparatus according to claim 48, characterized in that a. The cathode is located at one end of the envelope; 30 b. the second electrode at least partially surrounds the envelope; and c. a third electrode is disposed past the second electrode for manipulating EVs. 51. An apparatus according to claim 47, characterized in that a. The cathode is located at one end of the envelope; b. the second electrode at least partially surrounds the envelope; and 8300190 ". - 104 - c. a third electrode is disposed past the second electrode for manipulating EVs. 52. Device according to claim 10, characterized in that the cathode is provided with a conductive material, the cathode being removed from the tip of the dielectric material, the second electrode having a conical-shaped metal surface on the interior of the dielectric material and symmetrical with the conical-shaped dielectric material and the cathode, further including a cylindrically symmetrical third electrode spaced from the cathode and the second electrode so that EVs generated by the cathode are spaced between the cathode and the region of the third electrode may continue. The device of claim 10, characterized by a selector for selectively drawing EVs from a plurality of generated EVs. 54. An apparatus according to claim 10, characterized by a separator for separating EVs 20 from plasma discharge products produced EVs upon generation. 55. An apparatus according to claim 10, characterized in that the second electrode comprises a target which emits electromagnetic radiation in the X-ray region upon impact by an EV. An apparatus according to claim 55, characterized by a separator for separating EVs from plasma discharge products produced in EV generation. The device of claim 10, characterized by means for guiding the general direction of travel of EVs generated with the device. 58. An apparatus according to claim 10, characterized in that means are provided for producing voltage pulses. An apparatus according to claim 58, characterized in that the voltage pulse means are provided with an output electrode, on which pulses 8800190-105 are produced when EVs reach the second electrode. The device of claim 51, characterized by an EV emitter for receiving the output pulses and generating EVs. The device of claim 10, characterized by a conductive element adjacent to the separation between the cathode and the second electrode, which element is arranged in a series such that when EVs move from the cathode to the second electrode, they repeatedly pass through parts of the element, whereby energy is transferred to the element in the form of electromagnetic radiation. 62. Device according to claim 10, characterized by a. An elongated trough of porous dielectric material; b. the cathode facing the interior of the trough; c. wherein the second electrode is arranged substantially along the trough; and d. wherein the environment of the device is influenced by gas, which is selectively supplied to the trough via the dielectric material of the trough. 63. An apparatus according to claim 10, characterized by an additional electrode and means for optionally influencing the direction of travel of the generated EVs by optionally supplying an electric field to the additional electrode. 64. Device for manipulating EVs, characterized by means for guiding their general direction of travel. 65. Device according to claim 64, characterized in that the guiding means comprise a dielectric body with first and second opposing surfaces, a channel being provided in the first surface for receiving EVs and limiting the movement of the EVs. An apparatus according to claim 65, characterized in that the sao oiso A * 106 is characterized in that the channel comprises an elongated groove. An apparatus according to claim 66, characterized by a dielectric cover above at least part of the groove. An apparatus according to claim 65, characterized by an electrode on the dielectric body on the second surface thereof for supplying an electric potential so as to at least partially limit the EVs in the groove. 69. An apparatus according to claim 65, characterized in that the channel is formed at least in part by cutting an additional surface of the dielectric body and the first surface at an angle not exceeding 90. 70. Device according to claim 69, characterized in that the dielectric body comprises a first element and a second element in contact with the first element, wherein the first surface is a surface of the first element and the additional surface is a surface of the second element. 71. Device according to claim 65, characterized in that the channel has an optionally variable length. 72. Device according to claim 64, characterized in that the guide member is provided with an approximately cylindrical tubular dielectric body. 73. An apparatus according to claim 72, characterized by an electrode on the outer cylindrical surface of the body for supplying an electrical potential thereto, so as to allow at least in part the EVs to travel through the interior of the body. 74. An apparatus according to claim 72, characterized by an electrode on the interior of the body for supplying an electric potential so as to at least partially advance the EVs across the cylindrical outer surface of the body. 75. Device according to claim 64, characterized in that the guiding means comprise an optically reflecting surface. 76. Device as claimed in claim 64, characterized in that the guiding means are provided with a switch for optionally changing the general direction of movement of EVs. 77. Device according to claim 76, characterized in that the switch is provided with a. An intermediate section for temporarily limiting EVs; b. an input channel for conducting EVs to the intermediate section; c. at least one output channel for conducting EVs from the intermediate section; 15 d. at least one electrode for supplying an electric potential for optionally controlling the propagation of EVs to the at least one output channel. 78. Device according to claim 77, characterized by a dielectric cover above the intermediate section. 79. An apparatus according to claim 77, characterized by a feedback electrode in the vicinity of the at least one output channel for receiving feedback signals from EVs from the intermediate section along the length of the output channel. 80. An apparatus according to claim 77, characterized by an additional electrode for the at least one channel, said additional electrode being disposed relative to the channel to provide a potential for at least partially advancing EV'2 through the channel. 81. Device according to claim 63, characterized in that the guide means are provided with a splitting unit. An apparatus according to claim 81, characterized in that the splitting unit includes a dielectric body with at least two intersecting channels over its surface, whereby EVs reaching the 88001 90 4 * - 108 - intersection of the channels by at least one of the at least two channels can travel. An apparatus according to claim 82, characterized in that the channels comprise elongated grooves. An apparatus according to claim 82, characterized in that the at least one channel is formed at least in part by the intersection at an O angle, not exceeding 90, of two surfaces of the dielectric body. An apparatus according to claim 82, characterized in that at least one of the channels through which EVs can travel after passing the intersection has an optionally variable length. 86. Device according to claim 64, characterized in that the guiding means are provided with at least one conductive body, through which EVs can travel, such that inductive and capacitive interaction between the EVs and the body advances the EVs in one general direction to move. 87. Device as claimed in claim 86, characterized in that a. The guiding means further comprise a series of a number of such conductive bodies, which are mutually separated and arranged in the general direction; and B. each conductive body is provided with a multipole element such that EVs traveling in the general direction pass at least two poles of such a body. The device of claim 86, characterized in that the conductive body includes a series of separated elements, each element having a passage through which EVs moving in the general direction can pass. 89. An apparatus according to claim 64, characterized in that the conducting means are provided with means for selectively transmitting electron emission from the EV propagation path. 8800 190 - 109 * 90. Device according to claim 64, characterized in that the guiding means comprise: a. A dielectric body with a channel in a surface thereof for receiving EVs and limiting their movement; b. a dielectric cover disposed above at least a portion of the channel, with one or more ports in the cover located above the channel; and c. a gate electrode at each gate for optionally supplying an electric potential, to optionally enable and disable the passage of electrons through the gate. 91. Device according to claim 30, characterized in that the cathode is provided with a conductive material wetting substructure material. 92. An apparatus according to claim 64, characterized in that the guiding means comprise: a. A dielectric body with a channel in a first surface thereof for receiving EVs and limiting their movement; b. a first electrode disposed along a second side of the dielectric body and comprising one or more through-openings located along the channel; and 25 c. a second electrode disposed substantially along the first electrode but at a distance therefrom, said second electrode comprising electromagnetic radiation receiving material disposed at said openings and sent through said openings in said first electrode when EVs pass through the canal. An apparatus according to claim 92, characterized in that the electromagnetic radiation is in the high-frequency range. An apparatus according to claim 64, characterized in that the guiding means are provided with: a. A deflection area in which the advancing path of an EV can be optionally deflected; 8800190 "- 110 - b. means for directing EVs to the deflection area; and c. a pair of electrodes along the deflection region, whereby applying an electrical signal to the electrodes deflects the travel path of an EV in the deflection region in accordance with the electrical signal. An apparatus according to claim 94, characterized by a phosphor screen adjacent to the deflection region and receiving electrons emitted by the deflection region as an EV advances, said phosphor screen providing visible light in response to the electrons received. An apparatus according to claim 95, characterized by a sensing system for amplifying the light image produced by the phosphor screen. 97. Device according to claim 94, characterized by a dielectric body on which the deflection region is present and on which the pair of electrodes is mounted. An apparatus according to claim 94, characterized by an electron camera arranged to receive electrons emitted when an EV moves through the deflection region. 99. An EV generator in combination with an EV separator for separating EVs from plasma discharge products produced when generating EVs. 100. An apparatus according to claim 99, characterized in that a. The generator comprises an approximately cylindrical symmetrical cathode with a sharp end; and B. the separator is provided with a dielectric, substantially tubular element, which at least partially surrounds the cathode, defining an opening which is aligned with and spaced from the sharp end of the cathode and which has an electrode is mounted on the outer surface of the tubular element; SS®0130 - Ill - 'c. whereby generated EVs can exit through the opening defined by the tubular member, while the remaining discharge products may remain within the tubular member. 101. An apparatus according to claim 99, characterized in that a. The generator comprises a dielectric body with a first surface on which a cathode is arranged; and 10 b. the separator includes a dielectric element disposed over the dielectric body to at least partially cover the cathode and interact with the dielectric body to at least partially define an aperture substantially aligned with and separated from the cathode, an electrode being applied to an outer surface of the element; c. whereby generated EVs may exit through the opening, while other discharge products may remain within the region between the dielectric body and the dielectric element. 102. An EV launcher for propagating EVs through a space. 103. An apparatus according to claim 102, characterized by an EV generator, which is separated from an electrode for supplying a potential, which removes an EV from the generator and causes the EV to move through space. 104. EV selector for optionally purchasing one or more EVs from a number of EVs. 105. An apparatus according to claim 104, characterized in that the selector is provided with a substantially tubular dielectric element which tapers so that an opening surrounded by a sharp edge is defined, an electrode on the outer surface of the tubular element. is provided, allowing EVs to move from the interior of the tubular member through the aperture to the electrode, while an external potential can be used to selectively extract EVs from the region of the rim. 106. The device of claim 105, characterized by a cathode disposed in the approximately tubular member and aligned with the aperture through which EVs can be generated by providing an electric potential difference between the cathode and the electrode. 107. The device of claim 105, characterized by a second electrode disposed separately from the aperture to provide an external potential for selectively extracting EVs from the region of the rim. 108. An apparatus according to claim 104, characterized in that the selector comprises: a. A dielectric body with a first surface; b. a first and second EV conducting channel located along the first surface and intersecting each other at an acute angle, thereby defining an edge at the inner corner of this intersection; and c. an electrode in the second channel spaced from the intersection with the first channel and arranged so that EVs moving through the first channel move along the edge towards the electrode, thereby providing an external potential for selectively decreasing EVs from the region of the rim and further in the first channel to move away from the rim. 109. Device according to claim 108, characterized by a substantially planar cathode, which is used in the generation of EVs and which is arranged in the first channel around the corner at a distance from the electrode. 110. Device according to claim 108, characterized by at least one additional electrode, which is arranged substantially in the first channel and at a distance from the intersection point for supplying the external potential for selectively decreasing EVs from the region of the edge. SS0C130 "* - 113 - 111. EV Oscilloscope for supplying an electrical signal to the propulsion path of an EV, to deflect EV propulsion according to the applied signal. 112. An apparatus according to claim 111, characterized in that the oscilloscope comprises: a. A deflection area in which the propulsion path of an EV can be optionally deflected; b. means for guiding EVs to the deflection area; and c. a pair of electrodes along the deflection region, supplying an electrical signal to the electrodes deflects the path of travel of an EV in the deflection region in accordance with the electrical signal. An apparatus according to claim 112, characterized by a phosphor screen adjacent to the deflection region and receiving electrons which are emitted when an EV moves through the deflection region, which screen 20 provides visible in response to the received electrons. 114. An apparatus according to claim 113, characterized by an observation system for amplifying the light image produced by the phosphor screen. An apparatus according to claim 112, characterized by a dielectric body on which the deflection region is arranged and on which the pair of electrodes is mounted. An apparatus according to claim 112, characterized by an electron camera arranged to receive electrons emitted when an EV moves through the deflection region. An apparatus according to claim 112, characterized by at least one additional oscilloscope arranged relative to the first oscilloscope such that the deflection regions of the oscilloscopes at least partially overlap. 88001So "V. * - 114 - 118. An apparatus according to claim 117, characterized in that a plurality of oscilloscopes are oriented such that electrical signals supplied through their respective electrodes can affect the deflection of the travel path of an EV in three dimensions. 119. An apparatus according to claim 117, characterized in that one or more electron cameras are arranged to receive electrons emitted when an EV moves through the deflection regions. 120. Electron camera for observing an event through a pattern of electrons. 121. An apparatus according to claim 120, characterized in that the electron camera is provided with: a. A "pinhole" opening through which electrons can pass; and B. means for producing a visible output signal in response to electrons affecting the visible output signal means, said means being substantially aligned with but spaced from the aperture. An apparatus according to claim 121, characterized by deflecting electrodes disposed approximately between the aperture and the visible output means, whereby the paths of the electrons passing through the aperture can be optionally deflected by applying an electrical signal to the electrodes before the electrodes strike the visible output signal means. An apparatus according to claim 121, characterized in that the visible output signal means comprise the combination of a channel electron multiplier (CEM) and a phosphor screen. 124. Device according to claim 121, characterized by a housing, in which an input is arranged by means of the opening and in which substantially the area between the opening and the visible output signal means is accommodated. 125. An apparatus according to claim 121, characterized by at least one additional electron camera wherein the plurality of electron cameras are arranged to receive electrons substantially from the same region. An apparatus according to claim 125, characterized in that the electron cameras are arranged to receive electrons supplied by the passage of an EV through at least one 10 EV oscilloscope. 127. An apparatus according to claim 121, characterized by an EV oscilloscope, wherein the electron camera is arranged to receive electrons, which are provided by the passage of an EV through the 15 EV oscilloscope. 128. Apparatus for substantially conducting EVs along a path, allowing transmission of electromagnetic energy from the passing EVs, as well as collecting the energy. 129. Device according to claim 128, characterized by a traveling wave circuit. 130. Device according to claim 129, characterized by: a. A substantially tubular dielectric element, in which EVs can move; and B. a conductive spiral, which surrounds the tubular element approximately a distance over which EVs can move, so that during such movement EVs pass at least partially along the longitudinal direction of the spiral 30. 131. Device according to claim 130, characterized by a base surface which is placed approximately over at least a part of the spiral. An apparatus according to claim 130, characterized by an EV generator having a cathode and a second electrode disposed approximately in line with the tubular element such that EVs moving from the cathode approximately to the second electrode pass through the interior 8300190 '4 * - 116 - of the tubular element. 133. Device according to claim 129, characterized in that the traveling wave circuit comprises: a. A dielectric body with a first surface; b. an EV conduction channel on the first surface; and c. a winding conductor element disposed over the dielectric body and along the channel so that EVs moving through the channel pass substantially in the longitudinal direction of the winding conductor. 134. Device according to claim 128, characterized by a a dielectric body with a channel over a first surface thereof for receiving EVs and limiting their movement; b. a first electrode disposed over a second side of the dielectric body and comprising one or more through-holes located along the channel; and c. a second electrode spaced substantially along the first electrode, the second electrode comprising collecting material disposed at the openings for receiving electromagnetic radiation emitted through the openings in the first electrode when EVs pass through the canal. 135. Device according to claim 129, characterized in that the electromagnetic radiation lies in the high-frequency range. 136. Device for producing electric pulses by generating EVs. 137. An apparatus according to claim 136, characterized by a. A cathode for use in generating EVs and a second electrode substantially aligned with and separated from the cathode; 88001 36 - 117 - ** * b. a dielectric element on which the second electrode is placed and which faces the cathode; and c. an output electrode disposed on the dielectric element on its opposite side to the second electrode so that electrical pulses are produced on the output electrode due to EVs striking the second electrode. An apparatus according to claim 137, characterized by a conductive shield which substantially encloses the cathode 10 and the second electrode. 139. Device according to claim 137, characterized by a separator, comprising: a. A dielectric, substantially tubular body, which at least partly surrounds the cathode and defines an opening which is substantially in line between the cathode and the second electrode, through which aperture generated EVs can exit at the cathode; and B. a third electrode, which is placed on the outer surface of the tubular body for use in generating EVs, whereby a potential applied between the cathode and the second electrode can be used to selectively separate EVs for advancement to the second electrode. 140. An apparatus according to claim 137, characterized by a field emission emitter electrically connected to the output electrode for receiving the electric pulses for generating EVs. 141. Apparatus according to claim 136, characterized by a field emission emitter arranged to receive the electric pulses for generating EVs. 142. Device for the. generating EVs, characterized by a. a conductive cathode? 35 b. a second conductive electrode separated from the cathode; and c. a third electrode, which acts as a control electrode and is disposed approximately between the cathode and the second 880 01 8 0 - 118 electrode to provide an electric potential between the third electrode and the cathode to control the generation of EVs. 143. An apparatus according to claim 142, characterized by a fourth electrode which acts as a feedback electrode and which is arranged approximately in the vicinity of the second electrode to utilize feedback effects of the passage of EVs. 144. An apparatus according to claim 143, characterized by a dielectric base, comprising means for guiding EVs substantially along the base, the cathode being disposed on one surface of the base and the second, third and fourth electrode are placed on the opposite surface. 145. An apparatus according to claim 143, characterized in that the EVs are generated substantially by pure field emission. 146. Device according to claim 142, characterized by a dielectric base with means for guiding EVs over the base, the cathode being disposed on one surface of the base and the second and third electrodes disposed on the opposite surface. 8800130 Belongs to our letter dated 02/15/88 to the Patent Council - »'3' Change sheet p. 17, r 24 replace" give "by" collide with "p. 22, r 16 replace" 88 "with" 86 "p 25, r 5 "and a" replaced by "where the" p. 40, r 35-38 "The guide ..... part." delete. p. 43, r 11-14 "Consequently ..... the base and" delete p. 43, r 14 "replace the counterelectric" replace "The counterelectro" p. 48, r 5 replace "20" with Replace "22" p. 48, r 18 + 19 "outer surface" with "outer surfaces" p. 49, r 30 replace "other divider" by "other selector" p. 57, r 25 after "insert channel" of replace a splitting element "p. 64, r 1" replace the injected electron "by replace" the injected electrons "p. 68, r 32 replace" charge or energy "by" perform charge or energy analysis "p. 69, r 35 Replace "multiplication" by "amplification" p. 69, r 37 "or amplify" delete p. 71, r 3, 4 "replace observation fields" by "observation field" p. 74, r 19 "tubes" replaced by "vacuum tubes" page 83, r 10 "622" replaced by "636" page 87, r 18 "of" replaced by "in" page 90, r 25 "replace relatively long RC time constants" with "a relatively long e RC time constant "8800 190 Λ