Traveling-wave tube having auxiliary resonant cavities containing lossy bodies which protrude into the slow-wave structure interaction cells to provide combined frequency sensitive and directionally sensitive attenuation

Claim 2

A traveling-wave tube comprising: means for providing a stream of electrons along a predetermined path, slow-wave structure means defining a plurality of intercoupled interaction cells disposed sequentially along and about said predetermined path for propagating electromagnetic wave energy in such manner that it interacts with said stream of electrons, means defining a plurality of cavities respectively disposed externally of at least selected ones of said interaction cells and sequentially along a direction parallel to said predetermined path, each of said cavities communicating with one of said interaction cells and being resonant at a preselected frequency, and a body of lossy material disposed in each said cavity and protruding into the adjacent one of said interaction cells by a preselected distance.

Claim 3

A traveling-wave tube according to claim 1 wherein said cavities and said bodies are of essentially cylindrical shape and have their longitudinal axes disposed parallel to said predetermined path.

Claim 4

A traveling-wave tube according to claim 1 wherein said preselected distance of protrusion is between essentially 5 percent and essentially 30 percent of the distance from the edge of said interaction cell to the center of said stream of electrons.

Claim 5

A traveling-wave tube according to claim 1 wherein said preselected distance of protrusion is essentially the same for each of said bodies.

Claim 6

A traveling-wave tube comprising: means for providing a stream of electrons along a predetermined path, a plurality of axially aligned essentially annular electrically conductive spacer elements sequentially disposed along and encompassing said predetermined path, a plurality of electrically conductive plates each mounted between a pair of adjacent spacer elements to define in conjunction with said spacer elements a plurality of interaction cells, said plates defining aligned apertures in their central regions to provide a passage for said electron stream and further defining coupling holes in regions radially outwardly of said central regions for interconnecting adjacent interaction cells whereby a propagation path is provided for an electromagnetic wave in a manner to provide interaction between said electron stream and said electromagnetic wave, at least certain ones of said spacer elements each defining a cavity disposed externally of and communicating with the interaction cell defined by the said spacer element, each Of said cavities being resonant at a preselected frequency, and a body of lossy material disposed in each said cavity and protruding into the adjacent interaction cell by a preselected distance.

Claim 7

A traveling-wave tube comprising: means for providing a stream of electrons along a predetermined path, a plurality of axially aligned essentially annular electrically conductive spacer elements sequentially disposed along and encompassing said predetermined path, a plurality of electrically conductive plates each mounted between a pair of adjacent spacer elements to define in conjunction with said spacer elements a plurality of interaction cells, said plates defining aligned apertures in their central regions to provide a passage for said electron stream and further defining coupling holes in regions radially outwardly of said central regions for interconnecting adjacent interaction cells whereby a propagation path is provided for an electromagnetic wave in a manner to provide interaction between said electron stream and said electromagnetic wave, at least certain ones of said spacer elements each defining a cavity disposed externally of and communicating with the interaction cell defined by the said spacer element, each Of said cavities being resonant at a preselected frequency, and a body of lossy material disposed in each said cavity and protruding into the adjacent interaction cell by a preselected distance.

Claim 8

A traveling-wave tube according to claim 5 wherein each said cavity and each said body is of essentially cylindrical shape and has its longitudinal axis disposed parallel to said preselected path.

Claim 9

A traveling-wave tube according to claim 5 wherein said preselected distance of protrusion is between essentially 5 percent and essentially 30 percent of the radius of said interaction cell.

Claim 10

A traveling-wave tube according to claim 5 wherein said preselected distance of protrusion is essentially the same for each said body.

Claim 11

A traveling-wave tube of the type which is severed into a plurality of amplifying sections, each isolated from one another with respect to electromagnetic circuit wave energy, comprising: means for providing a stream of electrons along a predetermined path, slow-wave structure means extending through each of said amplifying sections and defining a plurality of intercoupled interaction cells disposed sequentially along and about said predetermined path for propagating electromagnetic circuit wave energy in such manner that it interacts with said stream of electrons, means disposed between each pair of adjacent amplifying sections for precluding the passage of electromagnetic circuit wave energy between said adjacent amplifying sections while permitting the passage of said stream of electrons therebetween, means defining a plurality of cavities respectively disposed externally of at least selected ones of said interaction cells and sequentially along a direction parallel to said predetermined path, each of said cavities communicating with one of said interaction cells and being resonant at a preselected frequency, and a body of lossy material disposed in each said cavity and protruding into the adjacent one of said interaction cells by a preselected distance, the distance of protrusion of successive ones of bodies in at least one of said amplifying sections progressively decreasing as a function of longitudinal distance from the end of said one amplifying section adjacent said precluding means.

Claim 12

A traveling-wave tube of the type which is severed into a plurality of amplifying sections, each isolated from one another with respect to electromagnetic circuit wave energy, comprising: means for providing a stream of electrons along a predetermined path, slow-wave structure means extending through each of said amplifying sections and defining a plurality of intercoupled interaction cells disposed sequentially along and about said predetermined path for propagating electromagnetic circuit wave energy in such manner that it interacts with said stream of electrons, means disposed between each pair of adjacent amplifying sections for precluding the passage of electromagnetic circuit wave energy between said adjacent amplifying sections while permitting the passage of said stream of electrons therebetween, means defining a plurality of cavities respectively disposed externally of at least selected ones of said interaction cells and sequentially along a direction parallel to said predetermined path, each of said cavities communicating with one of said interaction cells and being resonant at a preselected frequency, and a body of lossy material disposed in each said cavity and protruding into the adjacent one of said interaction cells by a preselected distance, the distance of protrusion of successive ones of bodies in at least one of said amplifying sections progressively decreasing as a function of longitudinal distance from the end of said one amplifying section adjacent said precluding means.

Claim 13

A traveling-wave tube according to claim 9 wherein the distance of protrusion of successive ones of said bodies in said one amplifying section decreases essentially linearly as a function of longitudinal distance from said end of said amplifying section.

Claim 14

A traveling-wave tube according to claim 9 wherein said cavities and said bodies are of essentially cylindrical shape and have their longitudinal axes disposed parallel to said predetermined path.

Claim 15

A traveling-wave tube according to claim 11 wherein at least selected ones of said bodies in said one amplifying section each define a planar lateral surface facing said stream of electrons and in a plane essentially perpendicular to the plane passing through the longitudinal axes of the said body and said predetermined path, the distance between the plane of said surface and the edge of the interaction cell into which the said body protrudes progressively decreasing as a function of longitudinal distance from the end of said one amplifying section adjacent said precluding means.

Claim 16

A traveling-wave tube comprising: means for providing a stream of electrons along a predetermined path; a wave propagating structure divided into at least first and second amplifying sections and disposed along and about said predetermined path, each of said sections including a plurality of axially aligned essentially annular electrically conductive spacer elements sequentially disposed along and encompassing said predetermined path, a plurality of electrically conductive plates each mounted between a pair of adjacent spacer elements to define in conjunction with said spacer elements a plurality of interaction cells, said plates defining aligned apertures in their central regions to provide a Passage for said electron stream and further defining coupling holes in regions radially outwardly of said central regions for interconnecting adjacent interaction cells whereby a propagation path is provided for an electromagnetic circuit wave in a manner to provide interaction between said electron stream and said electromagnetic circuit wave; an isolator electrically conductive plate similar to the plates of said plurality but not defining any electromagnetic circuit wave coupling hole disposed between said first and second amplifying sections and axially aligned with the remainder of said plates, whereby the passage of electromagnetic circuit waves between said first and second amplifying sections is precluded while the passage of said electron stream therebetween is permitted; at least certain ones of said spacer elements each defining a cavity disposed externally of and communicating with the interaction cell defined by the said spacer element, each of said cavities being resonant at a preselected frequency; and a body of lossy material disposed in each said cavity and protruding into the adjacent interaction cell by a preselected distance, the distance of protrusion of successive ones of said bodies in at least one of said amplifying sections progressively decreasing as a function of longitudinal distance from said isolator plate.

Claim 17

A traveling-wave tube comprising: means for providing a stream of electrons along a predetermined path; a wave propagating structure divided into at least first and second amplifying sections and disposed along and about said predetermined path, each of said sections including a plurality of axially aligned essentially annular electrically conductive spacer elements sequentially disposed along and encompassing said predetermined path, a plurality of electrically conductive plates each mounted between a pair of adjacent spacer elements to define in conjunction with said spacer elements a plurality of interaction cells, said plates defining aligned apertures in their central regions to provide a Passage for said electron stream and further defining coupling holes in regions radially outwardly of said central regions for interconnecting adjacent interaction cells whereby a propagation path is provided for an electromagnetic circuit wave in a manner to provide interaction between said electron stream and said electromagnetic circuit wave; an isolator electrically conductive plate similar to the plates of said plurality but not defining any electromagnetic circuit wave coupling hole disposed between said first and second amplifying sections and axially aligned with the remainder of said plates, whereby the passage of electromagnetic circuit waves between said first and second amplifying sections is precluded while the passage of said electron stream therebetween is permitted; at least certain ones of said spacer elements each defining a cavity disposed externally of and communicating with the interaction cell defined by the said spacer element, each of said cavities being resonant at a preselected frequency; and a body of lossy material disposed in each said cavity and protruding into the adjacent interaction cell by a preselected distance, the distance of protrusion of successive ones of said bodies in at least one of said amplifying sections progressively decreasing as a function of longitudinal distance from said isolator plate.

Claim 18

A traveling-wave tube according to claim 13 wherein the distance of protrusion of successive ones of said bodies in said one amplifying section decreases essentially linearly as a function of longitudinal distance from said isolator plate.

Claim 19

A traveling-wave tube according to claim 13 wherein said cavities and said bodies are of essentially cylindrical shape and have their longitudinal axes disposed parallel to said predetermined path.

Claim 20

A traveling-wave tube according to claim 15 wherein at least selected ones of said bodies in said one amplifying section each define a planar lateral surface facing said stream of electrons and in a plane essentially perpendicular to the plane passing through the longitudinal axes of the said body and said predetermined path, the distance between the plane of said surface and the edge of the interaction cell into the said body protrudes progressively decreasing as a function of longitudinal distance from said isolator plate.