Patent ID: 8648533

Claim:
An overmoded distributed interaction network (ODIN) configured to support an interaction between an electron beam and a radio frequency (RF) signal, wherein the ODIN comprises: an overmoded cavity bounded by a first grid and a second grid, wherein the first grid and the second grid each includes a plurality of apertures arranged to enable the electron beam to pass through the overmoded cavity along a beam direction from the first grid to the second grid; wherein: the overmoded cavity is oriented transverse to the beam direction; the first grid and the second grid are separated by a distance of the order of one radian of electron beam transit angle; the overmoded cavity is adapted such that at least one electromagnetic field mode is supported within the overmoded cavity, the supported electromagnetic field mode having a wavelength smaller than a dimension of the first grid measured along a direction substantially perpendicular to the beam direction; and wherein the interaction between the electron beam and the RF signal is distributed within the overmoded cavity transverse to the beam direction.