Method and apparatus for forming a beam of charged particles

Claim 3

The method of claim 1 including producing adjacent the direct current electric field an intermittent gating electric field for selectively opposing and enabling the passage of the concentrated beam to the target.

Claim 4

a source of direct current potential connected to each electrode.

Claim 5

a source of direct current potential connected to each electrode.

Claim 6

a source of alternating current potential connected to the plate electrode, and

Claim 7

a source of alternating current potential connected to the plate electrode, and

Claim 8

a source of alternating current potential connected to the electrodes alternately in unequal polarity or phase, and b. the means for producing the target-directing direct current electric field comprises

Claim 9

a source of alternating current potential connected to the electrodes alternately in unequal polarity or phase, and b. the means for producing the target-directing direct current electric field comprises

Claim 10

a source of direct current potential connected across the plate electrode and target means.

Claim 11

a source of direct current potential connected across the plate electrode and target means.

Claim 12

The method of claim 1 wherein said one component of the electric field is formed by a plurality of alternating electric fields of alternately unequal polarity produced by single phase alternating current, and the other component of the electric field is produced by direct current.

Claim 13

The method of claim 3 wherein the electric field is arranged to effect substantially maximum concentration of the charged particles in areas disposed to opposite sides of each of the plurality of alternating electric fields at distances substantially equal to one-half the distance between said alternating electric fields, and the target-directing direct current electric field is produced between the forwardmost area of maximum concentration of particles and the target.

Claim 14

The method of claim 1 wherein both components of the electric field are produced by a multi-phase alternating current.

Claim 15

Apparatus for forming a beam of charged particles, comprising a. means for producing an elongated electric field having one component capable of concentrating charged particles along a longitudinal axis and another component capable of moving the charged particles along said axis to a target, b. whereby the introduction of charged particles into the elongated electric field at one end thereof effects concentration of the particles within said field and movement of the particles axially toward the opposite end of said field, c. target means forwardly of said opposite end of the electric field producing means, and d. means for producing between said opposite end of the electric field and said target means a direct current electric field, whereby to direct the concentrated beam of particles to the target without scattering.

Claim 16

Apparatus for forming a beam of charged particles, comprising a. means for producing an elongated electric field having one component capable of concentrating charged particles along a longitudinal axis and another component capable of moving the charged particles along said axis to a target, b. whereby the introduction of charged particles into the elongated electric field at one end thereof effects concentration of the particles within said field and movement of the particles axially toward the opposite end of said field, c. target means forwardly of said opposite end of the electric field producing means, and d. means for producing between said opposite end of the electric field and said target means a direct current electric field, whereby to direct the concentrated beam of particles to the target without scattering.

Claim 17

The apparatus of claim 6 including means for producing adjacent the direct current electric field an intermittent gating electric field for selectively opposing and enabling the passage of the concentrated beam to the target.

Claim 18

The apparatus of claim 6 wherein a. the means for producing the electric field comprises

Claim 19

The apparatus of claim 8 wherein a. the source of alternating current potential is single phase and is connected to the annular electrodes alternately in opposite polarities, and b. the apparatus includes

Claim 20

The apparatus of claim 9 wherein a. the plate electrode is positioned forwardly of the forwardmost annular electrode a distance equal substantially to one-half the distance between annular electrodes, b. the source of alternating current potential for the plate electrode is substantially one-half the magnitude of the alternating current potential for the annular electrodes, c. the source of direct current potential for the plate electrode is substantially one-half the magnitude of the direct current potential for the annular electrodes, and d. the target means is positioned forwardly of the plate electrode a distance equal substantially to one-half the distance between annular electrodes.

Claim 21

The apparatus of claim 8 including a. a gate electrode adjacent the plate electrode having an axially aligned opening therethrough, and b. a source of gating potential connected to the gate electrode for selectively opposing and enabling the passage of the concentrated beam of charged particles to the target.