A Compact Cold-Cathode Electron Buncher

Microwave Technologies Incorporated proposes the prototype development of a compact cold-cathode electron buncher (CCEB) which is well-suited for applications such as sensor systems for ballistic missile defense. The CCEB will provide high-frequencyelectron bunches by combining the features of novel microscopic vacuum triodes with the he robust and reliable solid-state technology. It should provide order of magnitude improvements in size, frequency and power over state-of-the-art counterparts.During Phase I we performed experimental dc and pulsed emission testing of a set of 1-mm diameter cold-cathodes and obtained stable emission currents as high as 120milliamperes. During Phase II we propose to develop a compact CCEB buncher prototypeoperating at 2.85 GHz capable of delivering 10 Kilovolt, 30-100ma electron bunches. A microstrip line matching network will be employed to efficiently couple microwave power into the CCEB's gate. We will use a set of newly conceived diagnostics formeasuring the length of the electron bunches. The CCEB, once fully developed, should provide order of magnitude improvements in frequency, size and power performance over existent technologies by using a miniature gated cold-cathode which eliminates theneed for heating elements and yields a super-fast turn-on microwave-driven electron source. The CCEB is a very compact, high-speed electron buncher that should be able to provide narrow high-frequency electron bunches for many applications. Of particularinterest are electron accelerators and millimeter-wave sources for airborne radar, satellite communications, wireless television and communications, cellular telephones, and the microwave power module.