IREB converter to AC pulses

摘要

A device for converting the kinetic energy of an intense relativistic electron beam (IREB) into trains of multi-gigawatt AC electrical pulses comprising a foilless diode for generating an IREB and injecting the IREB into one end of a drift tube. The device further includes a modulating circuit for modulating the IREB current while in the drift tube to obtain longitudinally spaced bunches of electrons, and a coaxial transmission line with the end of its center conductor disposed across the other end of the drift tube in the path of the IREB. A gap is disposed between the end of the drift tube and the end of the center conductor. The modulated IREB induces a voltage in the coaxial transmission line. This voltage appears across the gap to slow down the electrons and to convert the kinetic energy of the IREB into electrical energy that propagates along the coaxial transmission line.