Voltage pulse transformer using a triode electron tube having an anode, cathode and grid

摘要

596166 Disclosed is an electron-coupled transformer for generating a high voltage output pulse as an amplified version of an input pulse. The transformer is comprised of a cylindrical triode electron tube with a central anode (64) along the main axis of the tube and a grid (66) and cathode (68) radially spaced from the anode (64). The anode (64) has a first end connected to ground and a second end insulated with respect to ground. The cathode (68) forms a primary of the transformer and an ungrounded portion of the anode (64) forms a secondary of the transformer. The cathode (68) and the grid (66) form a travelling wave electron gun that produces a wave of ground potential in the transverse electric mode when the grid (66) is grounded with a pulse. The wave of ground potential propagates along the length of the travelling wave electron gun at the speed of light in a direction from the first end of the anode (64) to the second end of the anode (64). The wave of ground potential causes electrons stored in the cathode-grid gap to be extracted from the gap. The extracted electrons form a radially symmetric travelling front that sweeps along the anode (64) at the speed of light, causing a voltage output pulse on the second end of the anode (64), the magnitude of which is an amplified version of an input pulse applied to the cathode (68). The energy of the electron-coupled transformer is pumped in a linear fashion by at least the energy contained in distributed inter-electrode capacitance of the cathode (68) and grid (66).