Spatially Distributed Electron Beam Gun for High Pulse Repetition Rate Operation

Achieving high specific amplifier power density (RF Power/Weight) is the key objective to achieve compact form factor, particularly, for airborne platforms. Our innovative electron gun design approach permits the creation of high-current 20 kV electron beams suitable for use in high specific power amplifiers while maintaining ease of gun manufacturing and assembly. In addition, there is an enormous amount of flexibility with our design methodology for our electron beam guns, which allows us to design a large number of beam shapes with excellent beam performance. The latter turns out to be of critical importance for the extremely challenging task of matching the resulting electron beam to the periodic-permanent magnet (PPM) stack, which is the key to ensure light overall amplifier weight. Under the proposed Phase-II program, we will finalize the gun and magnet designs, build and test a beam stick to demonstrate the proof-of principle, and design a high-power, efficient, and broadband RF circuit that can be integrated with the demonstrated beam transport system in a future follow-on.