Apparatus for reducing the effects of thermal stresses on breakdown voltage in high voltage vacuum devices

摘要

An anode structure for use in high voltage vacuum devices which reduces the effects of thermal stresses on breakdown voltage includes an anode having at least one flat surface and a mesh of electrically conductive material disposed adjacent to the flat surface. The mesh serves to reduce the electric field on the surface of the anode which faces the cathode of a vacuum device, thereby reducing the electrostatic force in the direction of the cathode on both particles dislodged from the surface of the anode by electrons from the cathode striking the anode, and free particles found in the evacuable volume of the vacuum device. The mesh may either overlay the surface of the anode, so that it is in direct contact with the anode surface, or, alternatively, it may be supported in a spaced-apart relationship with the anode surface by a plurality of posts located between the mesh and the anode surface.