ASSIEME DI CATODO E GRIGLIA PER CANONI ELETTRONICI E METODO PER LA SUA APPLICAZIONE

A cathode/grid assembly for effecting a dual power mode electron gun for use with a traveling wave tube. The conventional "shadow grid" is both electrically and mechanically isolated from the cathode. A variable voltage source is connected to the shadow grid to bias it slightly above or slightly below the cathode potential, depending on the power mode. The electron emitting surface area of the cathode is the same in both modes. By changing the bias on the shadow grid, the transverse beam temperature may be increased to compensate for the reduced space charge density of the low power mode. Thus, the diameter of the low power beam is substantially the same as the diameter of the high power beam. This ensures good beam transmission and high electron beam rf interaction in the low power mode.