Patent ID: 8300378

Claim:
A method for preventing an extraordinary electromagnetic pulse from reaching and rendering inoperative a magnetic-winding containing electrical component of an electrical power system, which component is located in a conductive path of said system that receives said pulse, the method comprising the steps of: a) detecting the presence of said pulse in said conductive path prior to the pulse reaching and rendering inoperative said electrical component; b) diverting said pulse around the electrical component by creation of a low inductance, high current capacity short-circuit across the electrical component, so as to thereby collapse the magnetic field in said winding before the pulse can reach and render the electrical component inoperative; and c) said low inductance, high current capacity short-circuit comprising: i) a high-voltage cold-cathode field-emission vacuum electron tube including a cylindrical inner electrode, at least one cylindrical grid encircling the inner electrode, and a cylindrical outer electrode encircling the at least one grid; the inner and outer electrodes and the at least one grid sharing a common main axis; ii) the radial spacing from either the inner electrode or the outer electrode to an adjacent grid is such as to create therebetween a circular waveguide supporting the transverse electromagnetic mode.