Patent ID: 8138460

Claim:
A circular scan RF phototube system including a container evacuated to high vacuum and within said container comprising: an electron gun including a photocathode for receiving light pulses from a photon or particle continuous wave beam and converting said light pulses to photoelectrons, said photocathode including an emission side; an electron transparent electrode; an electrostatic focusing system at said emission side of said photocathode; a synchronizing signal generator to generate synchronizing signals issued synchronously with said light pulses; a deflection electrode on the path of said photoelectrons beyond said electron transparent electrode and said electrostatic focusing system, said deflection electrode deflecting said light pulses along a circular path; a deflection voltage connection means, said deflection voltage connection means feeding a sine wave deflection voltage signal to said deflection electrode; and a position sensitive detector system to receive photoelectrons or secondary electrons from said deflection electrode and record the positions of said photoelectrons or secondary electrons on said circular path, thereby providing position information in the form of fast nanosecond electronic signals for processing by means of nanosecond electronics.