Broadband traveling wave device having a logarithmically varying bidimensional interaction space

Claim 2

In combination: oppositely disposed electrode means bounding and defining therebetween an electron interaction space; said interaction space having a conical cross section of logarithmically varying bidimensional spatial characteristics; at least one of said bounding electrodes having means for propagation of electromagnetic wave energy adjacent to said space; means for the generation and direction of an annular electron beam through said interaction space; and means for establishing crossed electric and magnetic fields in said interaction space to yield a predetermined beam trajectory having transverse as well as longitudinal energy components; said electric and magnetic fields together with the fringing electric fields of said crossed propagated electromagnetic wave energy resulting in an electron space charge circumferentially and radially translated with respect to said propagation means in a velocity synchronous relationship where by a net flow of energy between the electrons and propagated waves is established in a radial direction over a substantially wide frequency range.

Claim 3

In combination: oppositely disposed electrode means bounding and defining therebetween an electron interaction space; said interaction space having a substantially conical tapered cross section dimensioned to provide logarithmically varying spatial characteristics; at least one of said bounding electrodes defining a periodic circuit for propagation of electromagnetic wave energy adjacent to said interaction space; means for the generation and direction of an annular electron beam through said space; and means for establishing crossed electric and magnetic fields in said interaction space to collectively provide with the fringing electric fields on said propagating circuit a substantially conical annular beam having transverse and longitudinal energy components to yield a net flow of energy between the electrons and electromagnetic waves on said circuit when the phase velocity of said wave energy is in substantially synchronous relationship with the electron drift velocities.

Claim 4

In combination: oppositely disposed electrode means bounding and defining therebetween an electron interaction space; said interaction space having a substantially conical tapered cross section dimensioned to provide logarithmically varying spatial characteristics; at least one of said bounding electrodes defining a periodic circuit for propagation of electromagnetic wave energy adjacent to said interaction space; means for the generation and direction of an annular electron beam through said space; and means for establishing crossed electric and magnetic fields in said interaction space to collectively provide with the fringing electric fields on said propagating circuit a substantially conical annular beam having transverse and longitudinal energy components to yield a net flow of energy between the electrons and electromagnetic waves on said circuit when the phase velocity of said wave energy is in substantially synchronous relationship with the electron drift velocities.

Claim 5

A broad frequency band traveling wave device comprising: oppositely disposed electrode means bounding and defining therebetween an electron interaction space; said interaction space having a substantially conical tapered cross section dimensioned to provide logarithmically varying bidimensional spatial characteristics; at least one of said bounding electrodes defining a periodic circuit for propagation of electromagnetic wave energy adjacent to said space; means means for the generation and direction of an electron beam including an annular emitter member to initially provide a substantially convergent conical annular beam through said space; and means for establishing crossed electric and magnetic fields in said interaction space to collectively provide with the fringing electric fields of wave energy on said propagating circuit a substantially logarithmically varying space charge having transverse as well as longitudinal energy components to interact circumferentially and radially with energy on said propagating circuit in a velocity synchronous relationship whereby a net flow of energy at the lower end of the frequency range is established where the propagating circuit and electron beam have the larger cross section and at the high end of the frequency range where the propagating circuit and electron beam have the smaller cross section.

Claim 6

A broad frequency band traveling wave device comprising: oppositely disposed electrode means bounding and defining therebetween an electron interaction space; said interaction space having a substantially conical tapered cross section dimensioned to provide logarithmically varying bidimensional spatial characteristics; at least one of said bounding electrodes defining a periodic circuit for propagation of electromagnetic wave energy adjacent to said space; means means for the generation and direction of an electron beam including an annular emitter member to initially provide a substantially convergent conical annular beam through said space; and means for establishing crossed electric and magnetic fields in said interaction space to collectively provide with the fringing electric fields of wave energy on said propagating circuit a substantially logarithmically varying space charge having transverse as well as longitudinal energy components to interact circumferentially and radially with energy on said propagating circuit in a velocity synchronous relationship whereby a net flow of energy at the lower end of the frequency range is established where the propagating circuit and electron beam have the larger cross section and at the high end of the frequency range where the propagating circuit and electron beam have the smaller cross section.

Claim 7

A traveling wave device comprising: oppositely disposed electrode means bounding and defining therebetween an electron interaction space; said interaction space having a substantially conical tapered cross section dimensioned to provide logarithmically varying bidimensional spatial characteristics; at least one of said bounding electrodes being of a substantially conical tapered configuration having an axis of symmetry and defining means for propagation of electromagnetic wave energy adjacent to said interaction space; said electromagnetic wave energy propagation means including a plurality of slow wave delay line elements providing a substantially logarithmically varying tapered surface in a direction oriented angularly and radially with respect to said axis of symmetry and a periodic spaced structure oriented circumferentially with respect to said axis of symmetry; means for the generation and launching of an electron beam including an annular emitter member to initially provide a convergent conical annular beam through said space; and means for establishing crossed electric and magnetic fields in said interaction space to collectively provide with the fringing electric fields of wave energy on said electromagnetic propagation means a substantially conical annular beam having transverse and longitudinal energy components to yield an electron space charge circumferentially and radially translated with respect to said propagation means in a velocity synchronous relationship with a net flow of energy between the electrons and propagated waves in a radial direction.

Claim 8

A traveling wave device comprising: oppositely disposed electrode means bounding and defining therebetween an electron interaction space; said interaction space having a substantially conical tapered cross section dimensioned to provide logarithmically varying bidimensional spatial characteristics; at least one of said bounding electrodes being of a substantially conical tapered configuration having an axis of symmetry and defining means for propagation of electromagnetic wave energy adjacent to said interaction space; said electromagnetic wave energy propagation means including a plurality of slow wave delay line elements providing a substantially logarithmically varying tapered surface in a direction oriented angularly and radially with respect to said axis of symmetry and a periodic spaced structure oriented circumferentially with respect to said axis of symmetry; means for the generation and launching of an electron beam including an annular emitter member to initially provide a convergent conical annular beam through said space; and means for establishing crossed electric and magnetic fields in said interaction space to collectively provide with the fringing electric fields of wave energy on said electromagnetic propagation means a substantially conical annular beam having transverse and longitudinal energy components to yield an electron space charge circumferentially and radially translated with respect to said propagation means in a velocity synchronous relationship with a net flow of energy between the electrons and propagated waves in a radial direction.

Claim 9

A traveling wave device according to claim 4 wherein said slow wave delay line elements define a substantially continuous tapered configuration.

Claim 10

A traveling wave device according to claim 4 wherein said slow wave delay line elements are provided in a spaced logarithmically varying configuration.

Claim 11

A traveling wave device according to claim 4 wherein means for the collection of electrons are provided at the terminal end of said interaction space.

Claim 12

A traveling wave device according to claim 4 wherein the ratio of said electric and magnetic fields is substantially invariant throughout the length of said logarithmically varying interaction space.

Claim 13

A traveling wave device according to claim 4 wherein the bounding electrode means opposite to said electromagnetic energy propagation means has a continuously tapered surface.

Claim 14

A biconical traveling wave device comprising: oppositely disposed substantially tapered conical bounding electrode members having an axis of symmetry and defining a periodic electromagnetic wave energy propagation means; plural substantially circumferentially disposed coextensive surfaces defining with said conical members and bounding therewith biconical electron interactiOn spaces intersecting at a common crossover region; said interaction spaces having a cross section of logarithmically varying bidimensional spatial characteristics; means for generation and launching of an annular electron beam having initially converging characteristics disposed adjacent to one end of said interaction spaces; means for establishing crossed electric and magnetic fields in said interaction spaces to collectively provide with the fringing electric fields of electromagnetic waves on said propagation means a circumferentially and radially translated electron space charge of substantially converging configuration along the first interaction space adjacent to the beam generation means and substantially divergent characteristics after traversing said crossover region; and said electrons interact in a velocity synchronous relationship with the waves on said propagation means whereby a net flow of energy is established in a radial direction over a substantially wide frequency range.

Claim 15

A biconical traveling wave device comprising: oppositely disposed substantially tapered conical bounding electrode members having an axis of symmetry and defining a periodic electromagnetic wave energy propagation means; plural substantially circumferentially disposed coextensive surfaces defining with said conical members and bounding therewith biconical electron interactiOn spaces intersecting at a common crossover region; said interaction spaces having a cross section of logarithmically varying bidimensional spatial characteristics; means for generation and launching of an annular electron beam having initially converging characteristics disposed adjacent to one end of said interaction spaces; means for establishing crossed electric and magnetic fields in said interaction spaces to collectively provide with the fringing electric fields of electromagnetic waves on said propagation means a circumferentially and radially translated electron space charge of substantially converging configuration along the first interaction space adjacent to the beam generation means and substantially divergent characteristics after traversing said crossover region; and said electrons interact in a velocity synchronous relationship with the waves on said propagation means whereby a net flow of energy is established in a radial direction over a substantially wide frequency range.

Claim 16

A biconical traveling wave device according to claim 10 wherein said electron beam generation means include an annular emitter member of substantially large cross section.

Claim 17

A biconical traveling wave device according to claim 10 and means at the terminal end of said interaction spaces for collecting said electrons.

Claim 18

A biconical traveling wave device according to claim 10 wherein said electromagnetic wave energy propagation means include slow wave delay line elements tapered in a logarithmically varying manner in a direction oriented angularly and radially with respect to said axis of symmetry.

Claim 19

A biconical traveling wave device according to claim 13 wherein said delay line elements are in a spaced logarithmically varying orientation.

Claim 20

A biconical traveling wave device according to claim 13 wherein said delay line elements define a continuous tapered surface.