Method and split cavity oscillator/modulator to generate pulsed particle beams and electromagnetic fields

A compact device called the split cavity modulator whose self-generated oscillating electromagnetic field converts a steady particle beam into a modulated particle beam. The particle beam experiences both signs of the oscillating electric field during the transit through the split cavity modulator. The modulated particle beam can then be used to generate microwaves at that frequency and through the use of extractors, high efficiency extraction of microwave power is enabled. The modulated beam and the microwave frequency can be varied by the placement of resistive wires at nodes of oscillation within the cavity. The short beam travel length through the cavity permit higher currents because both space charge and pinching limitations are reduced. The need for an applied magnetic field to control the beam has been eliminated.

This invention relates generally to high energy particle beams and more 
particularly to a device whose self-generated oscillating electromagnetic 
field converts a steady particle beam into a modulated particle beam. The 
modulated beam can be used to generate microwaves. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
This invention evolves from principles underlying the transit time 
oscillator (TTO) concept and the klystron wherein an electron beam 
interacts with an oscillating electric field to amplify or generate 
microwaves. 
In its simplest form, a transit time oscillator (TTO) is a pillbox cavity 
through which an axial high energy uniform electron beam passes. The 
pillbox cavity has natural modes of oscillation determined by its 
dimensions. When the transit time of the electrons in the cavity is 
slightly greater than a natural period of the cavity, the beam will 
experience both signs of the alternating electric field during transit. 
Under these conditions, the electron beam can give up kinetic energy to 
those naturally occurring cavity modes and the beam becomes unstable. This 
transfer of energy from the electron beam generates within the cavity an 
electromagnetic field oscillating at the natural frequencies of the 
cavity. The growth rate of the instability can be estimated by the 
relative amount of the exchanged energy to the total electromagnetic 
energy in the cavity. Growth rates of the instability are enhanced by 
operating near the space charge limit of the beam. Thus, transit time 
oscillators in which the current is near the space charge limit should 
exhibit rapid growth of beam instability. Eventually the instability 
saturates when within the cavity, the integrated electric field along the 
beam equals the beam energy. Once saturation occurs electrons will be 
stopped and even reversed because the field opposes the motion. However, 
during the alternating phase the electron beam passes through the cavity 
and is actually pushed by the alternating electric field. 
A klystron takes advantage of the phenomena wherein some of the electrons 
are retarded and others are accelerated by externally driven oscillating 
cavity fields. A klystron allows this velocity modulated electron beam to 
drift in free space. In the drift space, the separation between beam 
bunches becomes larger so that distinct electron pulses are produced. 
Because the length of klystron tubes are typically on the order of meters, 
an external magnetic field is applied to keep the electron beam on axis. 
As electron beams become more relativistic, the growth rates of the 
instability diminish because it becomes increasingly difficult to alter 
the beam's velocity. To overcome the restraint posed by relativistic 
beams, two methods have been proposed. One is to use a non-relativistic 
ion beam, which can achieve much higher energies. Another proposed method 
to reduce the constraint is to deflect the beam transversely rather than 
longitudinally. This is the "Transvertron" concept and is reminiscent of 
the beam breakup instability observed in accelerators. 
The TTO remains a concept because of several constraints which have not 
been practicably solved. In general, for the transit time to be longer 
than the modal period, the pillbox cavity must have a small radius and 
long length. As an example, these electron beam devices typically are used 
in microwave generation and amplification. For microwaves with a frequency 
of approximately 1 GHz or, equivalently a free space wavelength of thirty 
centimeters, and with a 200 keV electron beam, a TTO would require a 
radius of 11.5 centimeters and a length of 23 centimeters in order for the 
beam to experience a reversing electric field during its transit time in 
the cavity. The distance a high current beam can travel, however, is 
limited both by its tendency to pinch and by its own space charge. Thus, 
as in a klystron, an externally applied magnetic field would be required 
to keep the beam from pinching but space charge limitations will still 
restrict the total current. 
One device which overcomes the space-charge effects of prior art microwave 
devices is taught in U.S. Pat. No. 4,733,133, entitled "METHOD AND 
APATUS FOR PRODUCING MICROWAVE RADIATION" to Dandl. This device 
illustrates the increasing complexity of microwave generation devices and 
methods. The invention implements an electron plasma confined by an 
externally applied magnetic field within a small space. The method further 
employs a complicated arrangement of magnetic coils to shape that plasma 
into annular dimensions and then adiabatically compresses that plasma to 
generate microwaves. 
A variation of the standard virtual cathode oscillator based on a radially 
inward cylindrical geometry which takes advantage of the space charge 
limit of relativistic electrons is proposed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,751,429, 
entitled "HIGH POWER MICROWAVE GENERATOR" to Minich. In this instance, 
electrons are emitted from a hollow cylindrical velvet-lined real cathode 
through a coaxial anide onto an inner collector electrode. A virtual 
cathode is formed between the anode and a cylindrical collector electrode 
and this virtual cathode will experience spatial and temporal oscillations 
which generate microwaves. Additionally, electrons reflex back and forth 
between the real and the virtual cathodes which also generate microwaves. 
Typically, virtual cathode oscillators are low efficiency devices. 
It has been noted that an electron beam can be modulated by an external 
radio frequency source. Taking advantage of this phenomena, J. Krall and 
Y. Y. Lau, "Modulation of an intense beam by an external microwave source: 
Theory and simulation" APPL. PHYS. LETT. 52 (6), Feb. 8, 1988, pp. 
431-433, have shown how an electron beam traveling in close proximity to 
cavities already pumped with radio frequency energy will amplify that 
radio frequency power with a high degree of phase and amplitude stability. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
A method for producing a pulsed particle beam which can be used to generate 
microwave radiation has been invented which first involves introducing a 
directional particle beam into a split cavity wherein an instability of 
the beam grows and generates an oscillating electromagnetic field having a 
frequency determined by a harmonic frequency of the cavity. The field 
strength grows until it is equal to or greater than the energy of the 
particle beam. Then, the electric field stops and reverses the beam when 
the oscillating electromagnetic field opposes the direction of beam travel 
and pumps energy into and passes the beam through the cavity when the 
oscillating electric field is in the direction of beam travel; resulting 
in an output beam that is modulated at a harmonic frequency of the split 
cavity. The modulated beam is injected into an extractor wherein 
microwaves are generated. The microwaves are extracted rom the extractor. 
A method for producing the electric field is also disclosed. 
The invention is also the split cavity modulator (SCM) or a split cavity 
oscillator in which the phenomena described above occurs. The split cavity 
modulator comprises two conducting screens mounted to a housing and 
defining a cavity between them within the housing. A third conducting 
screen is mounted to the housing and is positioned between the two 
conducting screens to partition the cavity into a first region between one 
of the screens and the partitioning screen, and a second region between 
between the other screen and the partitioning screen, with the first and 
second regions in communication with each other. A directional input 
particle beam enters the cavity through the first screen and once inside 
the cavity, the beam becomes unstable and generates an oscillating 
electromagnetic field with frequencies harmonic to a fundamental frequency 
of the cavity. The electromagnetic field interacts with the input beam to 
form an output modulated beam which passes through the second conducting 
screen to exit the cavity. 
The split nature of the cavity relaxes the size constraints on the cavity, 
allowing it to be both axially narrow and radially wide. The resulting 
short beam travel length permits higher currents because both space charge 
and pinching limitations are reduced. Because of the shorter transit 
length of the beam within the split cavity oscillator, the need for an 
applied magnetic field is eliminated. The SCM is capable of operating at 
any range of frequencies, but has been demonstrated to operate from about 
200 Mhz to 2 Ghz. Typically, the SCM operates at a frequency of 
approximately 1 Ghz with 5 kA electron beam and a beam energy of 200 keV 
for a total input power of 1 GW. The range of operating voltage is 
approximately 50 keV to 1 MeV with the device operating slightly below the 
space charge limit for the voltage and particular geometry of the device. 
The ability of the device to function at low voltage compared with other 
high power microwave devices relaxes power source requirements. 
Thus, it is an object of the invention to produce high-powered microwaves 
over a long period of time yielding high energy output. 
The configuration of the split cavity modulator has been demonstrated to 
operate at low voltage. The short beam travel length reduces both space 
charge and pinching limitations. Damage because of high power is therefore 
minimized. Long pulse duration is achieved by using low current density 
and low power density. 
And, there is a further need for a simple, compact and efficient means to 
generate a pulsed high energy particle beam which can accommodate a demand 
for varying frequencies. 
The placement of resistive wires at the oscillatory nodes enable a particle 
beam to experience both phases of an oscillating electromagnetic field 
with several frequencies. 
It is a further object of the invention to generate an oscillating 
electromagnetic field which converts a steady high power particle beam 
into a pulsed particle beam over a short distance. 
The split nature of the cavity allows the cavity to be both axially narrow 
and radially wide, and within that compact space the beam experiences both 
phases of an alternating electromagnetic field, where the interaction of 
the beam with the alternating field creates a pulsed beam. 
It is yet another object of the invention to produce microwaves using a 
pulsed particle beam. 
It is a feature of the invention to pass the modulated particle beam into a 
resonating waveguide or transmission line wherein microwaves of the same 
frequency as the particle beam are generated. 
It is yet another object of the invention to produce microwaves without an 
externally applied magnetic field. The shorter transit length of the beam 
within the split cavity oscillator eliminates the need for the externally 
applied magnetic field. 
It is yet another object of the invention to efficiently extract energy 
from a modulated particle beam. 
Yet another object of the invention is to efficiently extract energy from 
microwaves produced by the modulated beam of the invention. 
The use of extractors, either in the form of waveguides or transmission 
lines, directly connected to the split cavity modulator make practicable 
the use of the microwaves generated. 
And even though there presently exist many different devices capable of 
producing microwaves at various power levels and efficiencies, in view of 
the importance and extreme variety of microwave technology, there remains 
a continuing need for innovative and structurally simple new devices for 
the production of high-powered single frequency coherent microwaves.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 1A, the split cavity oscillator, which may also be 
referred to herein as the split cavity modulator (SCM) 10 is a resonant, 
high Q cavity 12 partitioned by a screen 14 to yield two cavities 16 and 
18 (not shown in FIG. 1A). The screen 14 is supported by a rim 20 
suspended by posts 22, 22', 22" (see FIG. 1A) connected to a housing 28. 
Posts 22, 22', 22" inductively isolate screen 14 from housing 28. As shown 
in FIG. 1, inner cavities 16 and 18 may communicate or have feedback with 
each other in the space between rim 20 and housing 28. The cavity entrance 
24 and cavity exit 26, (see FIG. 1) like partitioning screen 14, are 
conductive screens, preferably of a metal mesh which are transparent to 
the electrons and transmit the beam but create a barrier to an 
electromagnetic field. Preferably, screen 14 is positioned midway between 
cavity entrance 24 and cavity exit 26 because this central position 
minimizes the amplitude of the oscillatory electric field reducing the 
likelihood of electrical breakdown. The cavity 12 is surrounded by housing 
28, also conductive, but solid. As shown in FIG. 1, a charged particle 
beam 40, preferably a uniform steady electron beam, enters the SCM 10 
through the first screen 24. A pulsed beam 42, resulting from the process 
described below, exits the SCM 10 through the exit screen 26. 
The process of the invention herein which creates a modulated or pulsed 
particle beam 42 is dependent upon the phenomena that, once the particle 
beam 40 is within a resonant cavity 12, an oscillating electromagnetic 
field is self-generated. In addition to the fundamental electromagnetic 
mode of oscillation present in the cavity 12, the SCM 10 now has an 
additional set of anti-symmetric resonant modes because of the presence of 
the partitioning screen 14. The electric fields for the first three of 
these additional anti-symmetric resonant modes are shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 
4, respectively. The presence of a beam 40 in the cavity 12 will lower 
these naturally occurring resonant frequencies, but the characteristic 
feature of these modes is that the electric field reverses sign across the 
partitioning screen 14. Returning to FIG. 1, for a SCM 10 with a radius of 
seven inches and with one inch gaps between the middle conducting screen 
14 and the entrance and exit screens 24 and 26 respectively, and with one 
inch separation between the rim 20 and the housing 28, the frequencies of 
these naturally occurring resonant modes shown in FIGS. 2-4 are 1.1, 2.0, 
and 2.8 GHz, respectively. 
The split cavity modulator is an inherently unstable structure; thus, any 
small perturbation of the beam will grow in time to a large amplitude 
resulting in certain effects. 
The split cavity modulator is an inherently unstable structure; thus, any 
small perturbation of the beam will grow in time to a large amplitude 
resulting in certain effects. Within the split cavity modulator 10, a 
uniform high energy particle beam 40 becomes unstable and generates an 
oscillating electromagnetic field. Once the beam is within the cavity 12, 
the unstable beam gives up energy to the resonant electromagnetic modes of 
oscillation of the cavity. These modes initially grow exponentially with 
the growth rate increasing as the beam current approaches the space charge 
limit which is dependent on the distance between screens 24 and 14 and the 
distance between screens 14 and 26. To preclude an electrical breakdown, 
the distance or gap spacing between the screens 14 and 24 and the spacing 
between the screens 14 and 26 must exceed a certain value dependent on the 
electrical field strength; typically, electrical breakdown occurs when the 
electrical field strength exceeds 100 KV/cm. Therefore, a total gap 
spacing of at least one centimeter per 100 keV of beam energy is 
desirable. 
Significantly, this configuration is unstable for transit times much 
shorter than a period because the opposing fields are sampled by the beam 
spatially, rather than temporally as when the beam remains in the cavity 
long enough for the field to reverse in time, as in a TTO. The beam 
instability transfers energy to an exponentially growing oscillating 
electromagnetic field until the electric field strength is equal to the 
energy of the beam. During one phase of oscillation, the electric field 
opposes the beam 40 and the beam 40 is stopped. During alternate phases of 
oscillation, however, the electromagnetic field is in the same direction 
as the beam 40 and actually pumps energy into the beam 40. The alternating 
retardation and acceleration of the beam 40 resulting from beam 
interaction with the oscillating electric field causes the particles 
within the beam to bunch and the beam becomes pulsed or modulated, shown 
as 42. 
Using the SCM 10, large total current, with correspondingly high power, can 
be achieved while keeping the local current density low. By operating near 
the space charge limit, fast growth rates of the electromagnetic field are 
possible. Because of the short beam travel length between conducting 
surfaces, high currents can be used without requiring an externally 
applied axial magnetic field. Unlike a klystron, the SCM 10 requires no 
drift space to bunch a velocity modulated beam. Moreover, in contrast to 
other high power microwave devices, the SCM 10 can function at low voltage 
thereby increasing the period of time over which the device operates and 
relaxing the power source requirements. 
Referring now to FIG. 5, the SCM 10 also offers the possibility of 
modulating large currents in a narrow region at the frequency of the 
fundamental split cavity mode or at higher frequencies. Resistive wires 
50, 52, 54, 56 can be placed at certain nodes of oscillation where the 
field strength is zero; when the beam 40 crosses these nodes each portion 
of the beam 40 responds to its local electric field and the SCM 10 
generates not only a spatially modulated beam as described, but alternate 
segments of the beam will exit one hundred eighty degrees out of phase as 
represented by 44. In this embodiment, the SCM 10 can function in modes 
other than the fundamental, permitting large structures, high frequency 
oscillations, and low power density. 
FIG. 6 shows how microwave generation can be achieved using the SCM 10. A 
modulated exit beam (not shown) passes from the SCM 10 through a 
broad-band extractor 60, which is either a shorted waveguide or a 
transmission line, at a point which is a quarter wavelength from short 64. 
By placing an iris 66 at a half wavelength from short 64, the extractor 60 
becomes a resonant structure. Thus, the quality factor Q of the structure 
increases and the electromagnetic fields within the structure can increase 
which may result in greater output power extraction efficiency. 
Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the configuration of the SCM 
10 shown in FIG. 6 can depict four different geometries. The configuration 
in which SCM 10 has a pillbox shape depicts a cylindrical SCM rotated 
about centerline 68. A horizontal centerline 70 below the SCM 10 
represents an annular beam. A centerline drawn vertically 72 to the left 
of the figure gives a radially diverging beam, whereas a centerline drawn 
vertically 72 to the right of the figure gives a radially converging beam. 
Finally, the SCM 10 could represent a planar geometry using a modulated 
strip beam. The modulated beam (not shown) in FIG. 6 is retarded by the 
periodic electric field in the output device, giving some of its energy to 
the field. A beam leaving a single output extractor, such as a 
transmission line or a waveguide, can retain considerable modulated power. 
The extraction efficiency increases when the beam is narrower because the 
beam encounters a smaller spatial variation in the extractor electric 
field. This condition favors strip or annular beams over solid ones 
because the low current density required for screen survival (about 20 A 
cm.sup.-2) limits the input power of a solid beam. 
FIG. 7 illustrates an embodiment of the SCM 10 used to generate 
electromagnetic radiation, preferably microwaves, comprising an annular 
SCM 90, an annular cathode emission surface 92, and two output extraction 
cavities 94, 96 for delivery of significant power and energy into a 
circular waveguide 98. Best results are achieved using a field emission 
cathode when the distance between cathode 92 and cavity entrance 24 is 
approximately the same distance as between the cavity entrance 24 and the 
middle screen 14. The annular configuration of the SCM 90 allows for a 
beam that's narrow relative to the wavelength of the oscillating 
electromagnetic field within the cavity 90. An additional advantage of 
this configuration is that it enables input of a large amount of current 
with a small current density because of the increased area provided by the 
annular geometry. The first extraction cavity 94 transitions into a 
circular waveguide 98 and the second extraction cavity 96 feeds into a 
coaxial transmission line 100. Extraction cavities 94 and 96 are driven in 
their fourth harmonic. Since the phase velocities in the waveguide 98 and 
transmission line 100 are different, the partition screen 102 between them 
need only extend to the physical location where the two outgoing waves are 
in place. The partition 102 can then be terminated, leaving a TM wave in 
the large circular waveguide 98. With 130 kV applied, 13.5 kA of current 
will be drawn. Of the 1.75 GW of injected power, 290 MW will be generated 
by the first cavity 94 and 220 MW by the second cavity 96. Thus, 510 MW at 
1.5 GHz flows down the large waveguide 98. This is nearly thirty percent 
of the input power to the SCM 90. The low current density, low power 
density, and modest voltage favor long time operation so it would not be 
unreasonable to expect considerable radiation of energy from this design. 
We have thus shown a completely new device and method to generate a pulsed 
particle beam and a self-generated oscillating electromagnetic field. 
Nothing in the prior art suggests or demonstrates anything resembling our 
invention which essentially converts a high power DC current into a high 
power AC current a very short distance later. The high power AC current 
which can then be used for the generation of microwaves. 
The foregoing description of the invention has been presented for purposes 
of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to 
limit the invention of the precise form disclosed, and many modifications 
and variations are possible in light of the above teaching and use 
contemplated. Any of the alternate geometries of FIG. 6 could be used as a 
basis. The embodiment of FIG. 7 is a variation of rotating the SCM 10 
about centerline 70 as shown in FIG. 6 and was chosen to best explain the 
principles of the invention and its practical application to thereby 
enable other skilled in the art to best utilize the invention. It is 
intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the claims appended 
hereto.