Abstract: Disclosed is a method and apparatus for generating a very fast electron pulse (30) in a vacuum. The electron source comprises a pulse-forming line (12), a solid-state switch (14), a cold field-emitting cathode (16), and an anode grid (18). The anode grid forms a portion of a side of an evacuated circuit (20) that may be used to produce an oscillating output signal or that may be a portion of a waveguide carrying an rf signal to be amplified. In operation, the pulse-forming line is charged to a desirable voltage. The solid-state switch is then closed, coupling the pulse-forming line to the cathode. An electric field develops between the cathode and anode grid. Under the influence of the electric field, the cathode emits an electron current pulse that is attracted by the anode grid. The current pulse enters the region between the anode and closure grids, and interacts with the electromagnetic field in the cavity at the appropriate time to add its energy to the electromagnetic field of the cavity.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and apparatus for generating a very fast electron pulse (30) in a vacuum. The electron source comprises a pulse-forming line (12), a solid-state switch (14), a cold field-emitting cathode (16), and an anode grid (18). The anode grid forms a portion of a side of an evacuated circuit (20) that may be used to produce an oscillating output signal or that may be a portion of a waveguide carrying an rf signal to be amplified. In operation, the pulse-forming line is charged to a desirable voltage. The solid-state switch is then closed, coupling the pulse-forming line to the cathode. An electric field develops between the cathode and anode grid. Under the influence of the electric field, the cathode emits an electron current pulse that is attracted by the anode grid. The current pulse enters the region between the anode and closure grids, and interacts with the electromagnetic field in the cavity at the appropriate time to add its energy to the electromagnetic field of the cavity.

Abstract: A compact range system includes a feed antenna offset from the rectangular-aperture paraboloidal reflector. The reflector has blended edges and smoothed corners to reduce contamination of propagated electromagnetic plane waves by diffracted energy. The continuous, smooth surface of the reflector maximizes the purity and uniformity of the plane waves from the reflector.

Abstract: A non-linear solid state conductor placed across a resonant aperture formed in a surface reflective of electromagnetic energy becomes conductive under the influence of a microwave field above a threshhold energy level of intensity to render the resonant aperture fully reflecting for the bandwidth of frequencies associated with the geometry of the resonant aperture.