CHARGED PARTICLE ACCELERATION APPARATUS AND METHOD

摘要

A charged particle beam (100) including charged particles (110) is generated from a charged particle source (e.g., a cathode or scanning electron beam). As the beam is projected, it passes between plural alternating electric fields (130p, n). In one embodiment, the electric fields alternate not only on the same side but across from each other as well. The attraction of the charged particles to their oppositely charged fields accelerates the charged particles, thereby increasing their velocities in the corresponding (positive or negative) direction. The velocity oscillation direction can be either perpendicular to the direction of motion of the beam or parallel to the direction of motion of the beam.