High Current Density Sheet-like Electron Beam Generator

THIS PROPOSAL IS FOR THE DESIGN OPTIMIZATION AND TESTING OF A HIGH CURRENT SHEET-LIKE ELECTRON BEAM GENERATOR. SPECIFICALLY IT IS FOR A HIGH CURRENT DENSITY (>20A/CM2) SHEET ELECTRON BEAM SOURCE USING A RUGGED LaB(6) CATHODE. SHEET ELECTRON BEAMS ARE VERY DESIRABLE FOR COUPLING TO THE EVANESCENT WAVES IN SMALL MILLIMETER WAVE SLOW-WAVE CIRCUITS, IN ORDER TO GENERATE LARGER POWERS. LaB(6) IS ONE OF THE BEST THERMIONIC CATHODE MATERIALS PRODUCING VERY OUTPUT CURRENT DENSITY FOR A GIVEN EVAPORATION RATE. LaB(6) CAN BE REPEATEDLT EXPOSED TO AIR WITHOUT COMPROMISE TO ITS EMISSION PROPERTIES. HOWEVER, IT MUST OPERATE AT HIGHER TEMPERATURES THAN CONVENTIONAL CATHODES. TO BUILD A RELIABLE LaB(6) BASED RIBBON ELECTRON GUN REQUIRES EFFORT IN THE THERMAL DESIGN TO MINIMIZE THE NECESSARY OHMIC POWER. THE PROPOSED STUDY WILL ATTEMPT TO REACH AN OPTIMIZED DESIGN AND WILL COMPARE EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS WITH THE DESIGN PREDICTIONS.