Vacuum tube technology

Abstract

A gyrotron component (100) is assembled, comprising: (a) a vacuum tube (110) including (i) a resonant cavity (130) at least partially defined by a tubular component (132); (ii) an electron gun chamber (120) hermetically sealed to the gun end of the tubular component such that its interior is continuous with the interior of the resonant cavity; and (iii) a collector chamber (140) hermetically sealed to the collector end of the tubular component such that its interior is continuous with the interior of the resonant cavity; and (b) an electromagnet coil 152 arranged around the outside of the tubular component. After the gyrotron assembly is assembled, the vacuum tube is vacuumed by (i) applying a vacuum to the vacuum tube and (ii) baking the vacuum tube by selectively heating the electron gun chamber and the collector chamber. Other embodiments are also described.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] Cross - reference to related applications This application claims priority based on Israeli Patent Application No. 305432, entitled "Vacuum tube techniques", filed on August २३, 2023, which is incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] Some applications of the present invention generally relate to vacuum tubes. More specifically, some applications of the present invention relate to the manufacture of vacuum tubes for gyrotrons.

Background Art

[0003] A gyrotron is a type of high - power vacuum tube device that generates millimeter - wave electromagnetic waves by cyclotron resonance of electrons in a strong electromagnetic field. These were first theoretically proposed in the 1960s and have since been significantly developed for various implementations.

[0004] They operate at frequencies from about 20 GHz to over 250 GHz and are particularly valuable because of their ability to generate very high levels of output, which are extremely important in various scientific and technological fields. The peak output of short pulses (microseconds) can be on the order of several megawatts, and the average output can reach several hundred kilowatts.

[0005] The most prominent implementation of gyrotrons is in fusion research, where they are used to heat the plasma in electromagnetic confinement - type fusion reactors. In these systems, millimeter - wave energy from the gyrotron is used to heat the ions to the point where fusion can occur. Other implementations of gyrotrons include industrial heating, material processing, radar systems, communication, and cancer treatment.

Summary of the Invention

[0006] Note: In the Chinese text, the date "2023年8月23日" is written in Chinese characters. In the English translation, it is written in Arabic numerals for better readability in the English context. Also, the symbol "२" in the English translation of the date is used to represent the Chinese character "二" in the original text for the purpose of showing the translation correspondence.This summary is intended to provide some examples and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way. For example, features included in the examples in this summary are not required by the claims unless those features are expressly described in the claims. Also, features, components, steps, concepts, etc., described in this summary and the examples in other parts of the disclosure can be combined in various ways. Various features and steps described in the examples in other parts of the disclosure may be included in the examples summarized herein.

[0007] A gyrotron, among other things, comprises a vacuum tube and an electromagnetic coil (solenoid). An electron gun located at one end of the vacuum tube (e.g., inside the electron gun chamber) emits an electron beam, which passes through a tubular resonant cavity within the electromagnetic coil. The electromagnetic coil provides a strong axial electromagnetic field, causing the electrons to move spirally within the resonant cavity. Within the resonant cavity (e.g., where the electromagnetic field is strongest), the electrons emit electromagnetic waves along the axis of the resonant cavity. Used electrons are absorbed by a collector located at the end of the resonant cavity opposite the electron gun. The millimeter waves emitted by the electrons are shaped into a beam, which is converted by a mode converter and guided out of the vacuum tube for use (e.g., through a vacuum-sealed window).

[0008] Existing techniques for manufacturing gyrotron components result in a gap between the resonant cavity and the coil, surrounding the resonant cavity. A larger gap requires a higher-power coil, such as a superconducting coil cooled to cryogenic temperatures. Existing techniques involve assembling a vacuum tube, hermetically sealing it, and then passing the coil over the electron gun or collector after vacuuming. This imposes limitations on the size of the electron gun and / or collector; that is, there is a trade-off between reducing the inner diameter of the coil and increasing the size of the electron gun and / or collector.

[0009] Disclosed herein are manufacturing techniques for gyrotron components that reduce the gap between the resonant chamber and the coil by providing independence between the inner diameter of the coil and the size of the electron gun (e.g., electron gun chamber) and / or collector (e.g., collector chamber).

[0010] In some implementations, coils are placed around the resonant chamber before connecting the electron gun chamber and / or collector chamber to the resonant chamber. In some such implementations, this is facilitated by the inventors finding that effective vacuuming of the vacuum tube is achievable without baking the resonant cavity, for example, by selectively heating the chamber. This allows for vacuuming (which requires assembling and hermetically sealing the vacuum tube) to be performed after the coils have been placed around the resonant chamber, without causing thermal damage to the coils.

[0011] Therefore, according to some implementations, a method is provided for assembling gyrotron components including vacuum tubes and / or electromagnetic coils. The vacuum tubes may include a resonant cavity, an electron gun chamber, and / or a collector chamber. Electromagnetic coils may be arranged around the outside of the resonant cavity.

[0012] A vacuum tube can be defined at least partially by a tubular component. An electron gun chamber can be hermetically sealed to the gun end of a tubular component such that the interior of the electron gun chamber is continuous with the interior of the resonant cavity. A collector chamber can be hermetically sealed to the collector end of a tubular component such that the interior of the collector chamber is continuous with the interior of the resonant cavity.

[0013] This method may involve applying a vacuum to the vacuum tubes after assembling the gyrotron components, and / or baking the vacuum tubes by selectively heating the electron gun chamber and collector chamber.

[0014] In some implementations, the electromagnet coils are not superconducting, and assembling the gyrotron components involves assembling gyrotron components that include non-superconducting electromagnet coils.

[0015] In some implementations, baking a vacuum tube involves baking the tube while applying a vacuum to it.

[0016] In some implementations, applying a vacuum to a vacuum tube involves applying a vacuum through the ports of the electron gun chamber.

[0017] In some implementations, applying a vacuum to a vacuum tube involves applying a vacuum through the ports of the collector chamber.

[0018] In some implementations, applying a vacuum to a vacuum tube involves applying a vacuum through a first port in the electron gun chamber and a second port in the collector chamber.

[0019] In some implementations, assembling the gyrotron components involves forming an electromagnetic coil by winding it around a tubular component.

[0020] In some implementations, assembling the gyrotron components involves sliding an electromagnetic coil onto a tubular component.

[0021] In some implementations, selective heating of the electron gun chamber and collector chamber involves heating the electron gun chamber and collector chamber using at least one heating mantle.

[0022] In some implementations, selective heating of the electron gun chamber and collector chamber involves applying cooling to the resonant cavity.

[0023] In some implementations, the resonant cavity further includes a conductive liner, and / or assembling the gyrotron components includes inserting the conductive liner into a tubular component.

[0024] In some implementations, the gyrotron components are components of a continuous wave gyrotron.

[0025] In some implementations, the method further includes using the gyrotron components in a gyrotron.

[0026] In some implementations, the method further includes assembling a gyrotron that includes the gyrotron components. <s

[0027] In some implementations, applying a vacuum includes applying a vacuum to an electron gun chamber.

[0028] In some implementations, applying a vacuum includes applying a vacuum to both an electron gun chamber and a collector chamber.

[0029] In some implementations, applying a vacuum includes applying a vacuum through both (i) a first vacuum port in the electron gun chamber and (ii) a second vacuum port in the collector chamber.

[0030] In some implementations, applying a vacuum includes applying a vacuum through both (i) a first vacuum pump connected to the electron gun chamber and (ii) a second vacuum pump connected to the collector chamber.

[0031] In some implementations, selectively heating the electron gun chamber and the collector chamber includes selectively heating the electron gun chamber and the collector chamber to a temperature of at least 250°C.

[0032] In some implementations, the temperature is at least 350°C, and heating the electron gun chamber and collector chamber to the said temperature includes heating the electron gun chamber and collector chamber to a temperature of at least 350°C.

[0033] In some implementations, heating the electron gun chamber and collector chamber involves heating the electron gun chamber and collector chamber while ensuring that the temperature of the tubular components does not exceed 80°C.

[0034] In some implementations, baking the vacuum tube involves maintaining the electron gun chamber and collector chamber at the aforementioned temperature for at least one day.

[0035] In some implementations, maintaining the electron gun chamber and collector chamber at the said temperature for at least one day includes maintaining the electron gun chamber and collector chamber at the said temperature for at least two days.

[0036] In some implementations, assembling the gyrotron components is Arranging electromagnetic coils around a tubular component, Subsequently, the electromagnetic field profile of the electromagnetic coil is verified using a probe temporarily inserted into the resonant cavity through the open end of a tubular component, which is an end selected from a group consisting of a gun end and a collector end, and / or Subsequently, a chamber selected from the group consisting of an electron gun chamber and a collector chamber is hermetically sealed to the open end of the tubular component. Includes.

[0037] In some implementations, The selected chamber is an electron gun chamber, and / or After verifying the electromagnetic field profile, hermetically sealing the selected chamber to the open end of the tubular component includes hermetically sealing the electron gun chamber to the open end of the tubular component after verifying the electromagnetic field profile.

[0038] In some implementations, The selected chamber is a collector chamber, and / or After verifying the electromagnetic field profile, hermetically sealing the selected chamber to the open end of the tubular component includes hermetically sealing the collector chamber to the open end of the tubular component after verifying the electromagnetic field profile.

[0039] In some implementations, verifying the electromagnetic field profile of an electromagnetic coil involves verifying the electromagnetic field profile of the electromagnetic coil with the other chamber of the group already hermetically sealed to the corresponding end of the tubular component.

[0040] In some implementations, this method further involves hermetically sealing the other chamber of the group to the corresponding end of the tubular component after verifying the electromagnetic field profile.

[0041] In some implementations, assembling the gyrotron components is Arranging electromagnetic coils around a tubular component, and / or Subsequently, a chamber selected from the group consisting of an electron gun chamber and a collector chamber is hermetically sealed to the open end of the tubular component. Includes.

[0042] In some implementations, the selected chamber is the electron gun chamber, and hermetically sealing the selected chamber to the open end of the tubular component includes hermetically sealing the electron gun chamber to the open end of the tubular component.

[0043] In some implementations, the selected chamber is a collector chamber, and hermetically sealing the selected chamber to the open end of the tubular component includes hermetically sealing the collector chamber to the open end of the tubular component.

[0044] In some implementations, this method further involves verifying the electromagnetic field profile of the electromagnetic coil using a probe temporarily inserted into the resonant cavity through the open end of the tubular component, after the electromagnetic coil has been positioned around the resonant cavity and before the collector chamber is hermetically sealed to the open end of the tubular component.

[0045] In some implementations, verifying the electromagnetic field profile of an electromagnetic coil using a probe involves temporarily inserting the probe into the open end of a tubular component.

[0046] In some implementations, this method further involves operating a gyrotron that includes gyrotron components.

[0047] In some implementations, the gyrotron is a continuous-wave gyrotron, and operating the gyrotron involves operating a continuous-wave gyrotron.

[0048] In some implementations, operating a gyrotron involves continuously driving an electromagnet coil for at least one second.

[0049] In some implementations, operating a gyrotron involves operating it without cryogenic cooling of the electromagnetic coils.

[0050] According to some implementations, a device comprising components of a continuous-wave gyrotron is further provided, comprising a vacuum tube and / or an electromagnetic coil. The vacuum tube may have a resonant cavity, an electron gun chamber, and / or a collector chamber.

[0051] The electron gun chamber can be hermetically sealed to the first end of the resonant cavity such that the inside of the electron gun chamber is continuous with the inside of the resonant cavity, and the electron gun chamber has an outer diameter.

[0052] The collector chamber can be hermetically sealed to the second end of the resonant cavity such that the interior of the collector chamber is continuous with the interior of the resonant cavity, and the collector chamber has an outer diameter.

[0053] The electromagnetic coil may be positioned around the outside of the resonant cavity and / or may have an inner diameter that is smaller than (i) the outer diameter of the electron gun chamber and (ii) the outer diameter of the collector chamber.

[0054] In some implementations, the outer diameter of the electron gun chamber is larger than the outer diameter of the collector chamber.

[0055] In some implementations, the collector chamber outer diameter is larger than the electron gun chamber outer diameter.

[0056] In some implementations, the electromagnetic coil is not superconducting.

[0057] In some implementations, the device includes a continuous wave gyrotron.

[0058] In some implementations, a continuous-wave gyrotron includes a vacuum pump connected to an electron gun chamber.

[0059] In some implementations, the vacuum pump is the first vacuum pump, and the continuous wave gyrotron includes a second vacuum pump connected to the collector chamber.

[0060] In some implementations, continuous-wave gyrotrons do not have cryogenic cooling of the electromagnetic coils.

[0061] In some implementations, a continuous-wave gyrotron is configured to operate the electromagnetic coil continuously for at least one second.

[0062] In some implementations, the vacuum tube has a vacuum port in the electron gun chamber.

[0063] In some implementations, the vacuum port is the first vacuum port, and the vacuum tube has a second vacuum port in the collector chamber.

[0064] According to some implementations, a method for manufacturing components of a gyrotron, By arranging the electromagnet coil around the outside of the tubular component, after that, Resonant cavities defined at least partially by tubular components, An electron gun chamber hermetically sealed to the first end of the resonant cavity such that its interior is continuous with the interior of the resonant cavity, and / or A collector chamber, hermetically sealed at the second end of the resonant cavity, such that its interior is continuous with the interior of the resonant cavity. Assembling vacuum tubes, after that, Applying a vacuum to a vacuum tube, and / or Baking a vacuum tube by selectively heating the electron gun chamber and collector chamber. This involves creating a vacuum in the vacuum tube, Further methods including the following are provided.

[0065] In some implementations, The electron gun chamber has an outer diameter of the electron gun chamber, The collector chamber has an outer diameter of the collector chamber, The coil defines an inner diameter smaller than the outer diameter of the electron gun chamber and the outer diameter of the collector chamber, and / or Placing coils around the outside of a tubular component involves arranging coils around the outside of the tubular component that define an inner diameter smaller than the outer diameter of the electron gun chamber and the outer diameter of the collector chamber.

[0066] In some implementations, The tubular component has an outer diameter, The coil has an inner diameter that is no more than 20 percent larger than the outer diameter of the tubular component, and / or Placing a coil around the outside of a tubular component involves placing a coil around the outside of the tubular component that has an inner diameter no more than 20% larger than the outer diameter of the tubular component.

[0067] The present invention will be better understood from the following detailed description of its implementation, which is provided in conjunction with the drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0068] [Figure 1A] This is a schematic illustration of some conventional techniques for preparing gyrotron components. [Figure 1B] This is a schematic illustration of some conventional techniques for preparing gyrotron components. [Figure 1C] This is a schematic illustration of some conventional techniques for preparing gyrotron components. [Figure 1D] This is a schematic illustration of some conventional techniques for preparing gyrotron components. [Figure 2A] This is a schematic illustration of novel techniques for preparing gyrotron components related to some implementations of this disclosure. [Figure 2B] This is a schematic illustration of novel techniques for preparing gyrotron components related to some implementations of this disclosure. [Figure 2C] This is a schematic illustration of novel techniques for preparing gyrotron components related to some implementations of this disclosure. [Figure 2D] This is a schematic illustration of novel techniques for preparing gyrotron components related to some implementations of this disclosure. [Figure 2E] This is a schematic illustration of novel techniques for preparing gyrotron components related to some implementations of this disclosure. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0069] This disclosure includes different modifications of several elements. Modifications of a given element are generally identical in structure and / or function to one another, except for the differences described. For any given element in which different modifications are disclosed, the same name is used for each modification to indicate that they are actually modifications of the same given element. Unless otherwise specified, implementations of the devices, systems, and technologies described herein may include any configuration in which one modification of an element is replaced by another modification of the element with the same name. Furthermore, suffixes are used throughout the drawings to indicate different modifications of the same element. Unless otherwise specified, such modifications may be interchangeable with one another with the necessary modifications. That is, unless otherwise specified, an element having a given reference numeral may be replaced, independently of the suffix, by any other element having the same reference numeral (i.e., any other modification of the element).

[0070] To avoid excessive clutter in a particular drawing due to too many reference numerals and guide lines, some elements are introduced through one or more drawings and are not explicitly identified in all other drawings containing those elements.

[0071] A gyrotron, among other things, comprises a vacuum tube and an electromagnetic coil (solenoid). An electron gun located at one end of the vacuum tube (e.g., in the electron gun chamber) emits an electron beam, which passes through a tubular resonant cavity within the electromagnetic coil. The electromagnetic coil provides a strong axial electromagnetic field, causing the electrons to move spirally within the resonant cavity. Within the resonant cavity (e.g., where the electromagnetic field is maximum), the electrons emit electromagnetic waves along the axis of the resonant cavity. Used electrons are absorbed by a collector located at the end of the resonant cavity opposite the electron gun. The millimeter waves emitted by the electrons are shaped into a beam, which is converted by a mode converter and guided out of the vacuum tube (e.g., through a vacuum-sealed window) for use.

[0072] Refer to Figures 1A-D, which are schematic illustrations of some prior art for preparing the gyrotron components 100. For simplicity, only the vacuum tube 110 and coil assembly 150 (equipped with an electromagnetic coil 152) of the gyrotron components are shown. The vacuum tube 110 comprises an electron gun chamber 120 (housing an electron gun, not shown), a collector chamber 140 (housing the collector of the gyrotron and / or functioning as the collector of the gyrotron), and a resonant cavity 130 between them. The resonant cavity 130 comprises and / or is at least partially defined by a tubular component 132. The resonant cavity 130 may further comprise and / or be partially defined by a conductive liner 134 located within the tubular component 132. The liner 134 may also be tubular. The tubular component 132 is configured to serve primarily a structural role and / or to be vacuum-sealed, while the liner 134 may primarily serve an electromagnetic function. The tubular component 132 is formed from stainless steel (as with the electron gun chamber 120 and / or collector chamber 140), while the liner 134 may be formed from copper.

[0073] For simplicity, the window of vacuum tube 110 through which the millimeter-wave beam exits the vacuum tube during gyrotron operation is not shown.

[0074] Figure 1B shows the vacuum tube 110 assembled and hermetically sealed, for example, with one end of the tubular component 132 hermetically sealed to the electron gun chamber 120 and the other end hermetically sealed to the collector chamber 140. Once assembled and hermetically sealed, the vacuum tube 110 is vacuumed by applying a vacuum to the tube and baking (or "baking off") (Figure 1C). The vacuum tube 110 may have a vacuum port 112 through which a vacuum is applied. Baking is performed by heating the entire vacuum tube to a high temperature and maintaining that high temperature for several days (or even several weeks), as schematically illustrated by box 20. The high temperature can be at least 250°C (e.g., 300-400°C). The baking and vacuuming can be performed simultaneously or sequentially.

[0075] The coil assembly 150 is, for example, substantially tubular, having a central lumen 154. After the vacuum tube 110 is evacuated, the coil assembly 150 is positioned around the resonant cavity 130 (for example, coaxially), i.e., the resonant cavity is positioned within the lumen 154 (Figure 1D). The vacuum tube 110 is baked, at least in part, by the thermal sensitivity of the electromagnetic coil 152, before the coil assembly 150 is positioned. To position the coil assembly 150 around the resonant cavity 130, the coil assembly is passed over one of the chambers at both ends of the resonant cavity, i.e., the chamber passes through the lumen 154 of the coil assembly. Thus, the inner diameter d1 of the coil assembly 150 (and therefore the inner diameter of the electromagnetic coil 152) is necessarily larger than the outer diameter of the chamber through which it passes. In the illustrated example, the coil assembly 150 is designed to pass over the electron gun chamber 120, and therefore its inner diameter d4 is necessarily larger than the outer diameter d2 of the electron gun chamber. (Similarly, in an implementation where the coil assembly 150 passes over the collector chamber 140, the inner diameter d4 is necessarily larger than the outer diameter d5 of the collector chamber.)

[0076] In the illustrated example, the chamber over which the coil assembly 150 passes is the electron gun chamber 120, for example, because in this example, the diameter d2 of the electron gun chamber 120 is shown to be smaller than the diameter d5 of the collector chamber 140. To facilitate the passage of the coil assembly 150 over the chamber, for example, so that the lumen 154 does not need to be further widened, the vacuum port 112 may be located in the other chamber. Thus, in the illustrated example, the vacuum port 112 is in the collector chamber 140. For simplicity, the vacuum pump to which the vacuum port 112 is connected is not shown. Note that the vacuum pump is usually kept connected to the vacuum port 112 and actively applies vacuum continuously.

[0077] Since chambers 120 and 140 are typically wider than the resonant cavity 130, such a technique has the disadvantage of requiring the electromagnetic coil 152 to be wider than necessary to accommodate the resonant cavity within the lumen 154, and therefore further away from the resonant cavity 130. For example, the inner diameter d1 can be more than twice (e.g., more than 5 times, more than 10 times, etc.) the outer diameter d4 of the resonant cavity 130 (e.g., its tubular component 132). That is, the gap d3 between the resonant cavity 130 (e.g., the tubular component 132) and the coil assembly 150 required to assemble the gyrotron is larger than necessary (or desirable) for the gyrotron to function. Furthermore, the electromagnetic coil 152 must be strong enough to overcome the gap d3, i.e., to influence the resonant cavity 130 across the gap d3. To be strong enough, at least in a continuous-wave gyrotron, the electromagnetic coil 152 often needs to be superconducting and / or cryogenically cooled. Therefore, the coil assembly 150 is typically pre-assembled to incorporate the electromagnetic coil 152 and the cryogenic cooling component. A further disadvantage is that the superconducting and / or cryogenically cooled electromagnetic coil must be cooled not only when required, for example, in a gyrotron, but normally at all times.

[0078] Figures 2A–E provide schematic illustrations of novel techniques for providing a gyrotron component 200 relating to several implementations of the present disclosure. The component 200 comprises a coil assembly 150a having an electromagnetic coil 152a, and a vacuum tube 110a having an electron gun chamber 120a, a collector chamber 140a, and a resonant cavity 130a between them. The resonant cavity 130a may further comprise a conductive liner 134a comprising a tubular component 132a and / or at least partially defined by the tubular component 132a and disposed within the tubular component 132a.

[0079] For each component of component 200, the suffix "a" indicates that the component is a variation of the component of the same name in component 100 without a suffix. Unless otherwise specified, each such variation can be similarly described for its corresponding component in component 100, for example, having the same general structure and performing the same function within the gyrotron in which the components are used. For example, the electron gun chamber 120a, tubular component 132a, and collector chamber 140a may be identical to the electron gun chamber 120, tubular component 132, and collector chamber 140. The outer diameter d4a of tubular component 132a may be identical to the outer diameter d4 of tubular component 132.

[0080] In particular, the techniques described with reference to Figures 2A-E allow the inner diameter d1a of the coil assembly 150a to be independent of (and therefore smaller than) the diameter d2a of the electron gun chamber 120a and / or the diameter d5a of the collector chamber 140a, thereby advantageously allowing the gap d3a between the resonant cavity 130a (e.g., tubular component 132a) and the coil assembly 150a to be substantially smaller than the gap d3, i.e., substantially smaller than the possible gap for component 100 and / or more achievable using the techniques described with reference to Figures 1A-D. This advantageously reduces the power required for the operation of the gyrotron, and as a result eliminates the need for cryogenic cooling of the electromagnetic coil 152a, for example, even for continuous wave implementations (e.g., continuous wave gyrotrons), for example, simple water cooling or oil cooling may suffice. For example, the electromagnetic coil 152a does not have to be a superconducting electromagnetic coil. Therefore, a gyrotron using component 200 (and / or in which that component is assembled using the techniques described with reference to Figures 2A-E) is advantageous in that it does not require a constant power supply and cooling, but is compatible with on / off power supply as needed, which may broaden the range of implementations in which such a gyrotron can be practical.

[0081] As shown in Figure 2B, the coil assembly 150a is positioned around the resonant cavity 130a, i.e., the resonant cavity is positioned within the lumen 154a. However, unlike the techniques described with respect to Figures 1A-D, this positioning is performed before at least one of the chambers is attached (and hermetically sealed) to each end of the resonant cavity 130a. In the illustrated example, this positioning is performed before the electron gun chamber 120a is attached to the end of the resonant cavity. Alternatively or in addition, this positioning may be performed before the collector chamber 140a is attached to the end of the resonant cavity. Since there is no chamber, the inner diameter d1a of the coil assembly 150a only needs to be large enough to allow passage through the resonant cavity 130a (e.g., its tubular component 132). For example, the inner diameter d1a of the coil assembly 150a (and / or the inner diameter of the coil 152a) can be 20 percent or less (e.g., 10 percent or less) larger than the outer diameter d4a of the resonant cavity 130a (e.g., its tubular component 132). Thus, as described above, the gap d3a between the resonant cavity 130a (e.g., the tubular component 132a) and the coil assembly 150a (and therefore the coil 152a) can be substantially smaller than is possible for component 100 and / or achievable using the techniques described with respect to Figures 1A-D.

[0082] Another advantage of arranging the coil assembly around the resonant cavity with at least one end of the resonant cavity 130a remaining open (because at least one of the chambers 120 and 140 is absent) is that the electromagnetic field profile of the electromagnetic coil can be evaluated (e.g., verified) in situ by temporarily inserting the probe 30 into the resonant cavity 130a through the open end of the resonant cavity, as illustrated, for example, in Figure 2C. This may allow for adjustment of the electromagnetic coil 152a, repositioning of the coil assembly 150a, and / or switching between coil assemblies.

[0083] When the coil assembly 150a is positioned around the resonant cavity 130a, the remaining chamber is coupled and hermetically sealed to the corresponding end of the resonant cavity 130, thereby hermetically sealing the vacuum tube 110a (Figure 2D). In the illustrated example, this remaining cavity is the electron gun cavity 120a.

[0084] Subsequently, the vacuum tube 110 is evacuated (Figure 2E). As described above, evacuating the vacuum tube is done by applying a vacuum and baking. As also mentioned above, due to the thermal sensitivity of the electromagnetic coil 152a, it is usually not possible to place the electromagnet coil before baking. In the techniques of Figures 2A-E, this is addressed by selectively heating the electron gun chamber 120a and collector chamber 140a without heating the central region of assembled components such as the coil assembly 150a and / or the resonant cavity 130a. These are represented by separate boxes 20a' and 20a''.

[0085] Such selective heating can be achieved, for example, by using a separate oven for each chamber, or by arranging heating elements and / or heating mantles around each chamber.

[0086] In some implementations, baking includes selectively heating the electron gun chamber and collector chamber to a temperature of at least 250°C (e.g., at least 350°C). In some such implementations, the electron gun chamber and collector chamber are maintained at this temperature for at least one day (e.g., at least two days). In some implementations, this temperature is maintained such that the temperature of the resonant cavity 130a (e.g., tubular component 132a) does not exceed 100°C, e.g., 80°C, e.g., 50°C. In some implementations, cooling (e.g., water cooling or oil cooling, thermoelectric cooling, or vapor compression refrigeration) is applied to the resonant cavity 130a and / or coil assembly 150a during baking.

[0087] The inventors have determined that baking by such selective heating is sufficient, for example, that excluding the resonant cavity region of the vacuum tube from baking does not have a significant adverse effect on vacuuming the vacuum tube, or at least such adverse effects are offset by the advantages provided by the technique described with reference to Figures 2A-E.

[0088] As described above, the technique described with reference to Figures 2A-E provides independence between the inner diameter of the coil assembly 150a and the width (e.g., diameter) of the electron gun chamber 120a and / or collector chamber 140a. Such independence allows for a more advantageously smaller diameter d1a of the coil assembly, as well as a wider electron gun chamber and / or collector chamber. That is, while the prior art has a tension (e.g., a trade-off) between the inner diameter of the coil assembly and the width of at least one of the chambers, the technique disclosed herein alleviates this tension (e.g., a trade-off). For example, the technique disclosed herein allows both the electron gun chamber and the collector chamber to be wider than when adapted to pass through a coil assembly with a practical or feasible inner diameter, which may reduce certain design constraints on the chambers. For example, a wider electron gun chamber may advantageously allow for a larger spacing between the electron gun electrodes (e.g., enabling operation at higher voltages) and / or larger electron gun electrodes (e.g., reducing the density of emitted current). Similarly, a wider collector chamber may advantageously reduce the electron density and / or collector temperature (e.g., reduce collector wear and extend its lifespan).

[0089] In some implementations, diameters d2a and / or d5a are at least twice (e.g., at least five times, at least ten times, etc.) the diameter d1a.

[0090] Similarly, since the inner diameter d1a does not depend on the width (e.g., diameter d2a) of the electron gun chamber 120a (i.e., the coil assembly 150a does not pass over the electron gun chamber), a vacuum port 112a' can be provided in the electron gun chamber in addition to or instead of the vacuum port 112a of the collector chamber 140a. This may, advantageously, further improve the ability to vacuum the vacuum tube 110a.

[0091] Accordingly, according to some implementations, there is a method provided which comprises (1) assembling a gyrotron component comprising a vacuum tube including (a) (i) a resonant cavity at least partially defined by a tubular component, (ii) an electron gun chamber hermetically sealed to the gun end of the tubular component such that its interior is continuous with the interior of the resonant cavity, and (iii) a collector chamber hermetically sealed to the collector end of the tubular component such that its interior is continuous with the interior of the resonant cavity, and (b) an electromagnet coil arranged around the outside of the tubular component; and (2) then vacuuming the vacuum tube by (a) applying a vacuum to the vacuum tube and (b) baking the vacuum tube by selectively heating the electron gun chamber and the collector chamber.

[0092] According to some implementations, there is also a method for manufacturing components of a gyrotron, the method comprising: (1) arranging an electromagnet coil around the outside of a tubular component; (2) then assembling a vacuum tube comprising: (a) a resonant cavity at least partially defined by the tubular component; (b) an electron gun chamber hermetically sealed at a first end of the resonant cavity such that its interior is continuous with the interior of the resonant cavity; and (c) a collector chamber hermetically sealed at a second end of the resonant cavity such that its interior is continuous with the interior of the resonant cavity; and (3) then vacuuming the vacuum tube by (a) applying a vacuum to the vacuum tube and (b) baking the vacuum tube by selectively heating the electron gun chamber and the collector chamber.

[0093] In some implementations, according to the techniques described at least in part with reference to Figures 2A-E, a component for a continuous wave gyrotron is also provided, comprising: (1) a vacuum tube having (a) a resonant cavity; (b) an electron gun chamber hermetically sealed at a first end of the resonant cavity such that its interior is continuous with the interior of the resonant cavity, the electron gun chamber having an electron gun chamber outer diameter; and (c) a collector chamber hermetically sealed at a second end of the resonant cavity such that its interior is continuous with the interior of the resonant cavity, the collector chamber having a collector chamber outer diameter; and (2) an electromagnetic coil arranged around the outside of the resonant cavity and having an inner diameter smaller than the outer diameter of the electron gun chamber and smaller than the outer diameter of the collector chamber.

[0094] Refer again to Figures 2A-E. Although the coil assembly 150a is shown as a pre-formed component positioned around the resonant cavity 130a by passing it over the resonant cavity (e.g., sliding it over it), in some implementations the coil assembly may be assembled in place, for example, by winding the electromagnetic coil 152a around the tubular component 132. This is also facilitated by the techniques described with reference to Figures 2A-E, which allow (i) the electromagnetic field profile of the newly assembled coil assembly (e.g., newly wound coil) to be evaluated (e.g., verified) using the probe 30 while the ends of the resonant cavity 130a are not yet closed after the coil assembly is assembled, and / or (ii) the coil assembly to be protected from thermal damage by baking the vacuum tube 110a by selective heating of the electron gun chamber 120a and the collector chamber 140a.

[0095] It should be noted that the techniques described with reference to Figures 2A-E are applicable to various vacuum tubes, including various gyrotrons. However, they are presumably particularly useful for vacuum tubes used in continuous-wave gyrotrons, for example, configured to operate the electromagnetic coil continuously for at least one second.

[0096] The systems, apparatus, devices, and methods described herein should not be interpreted as limiting in any way. Rather, this disclosure is directed toward all novel and non-obvious features and aspects of the various disclosed implementations, as well as the implementations alone and in various combinations and partial combinations thereof. The disclosed systems, apparatus, devices, and methods are not limited to any particular aspects, features, or combinations thereof, and the disclosed systems, apparatus, devices, and methods do not require the existence of any one or more particular advantages or the resolution of any problem.

[0097] Some of the operations of the disclosed methods are described in a specific order for ease of explanation; however, unless a specific order is required by certain wording in this specification, this manner of description is inclusive of changes in order. For example, operations described sequentially may, in some cases, be performed in a different order or simultaneously. Furthermore, for simplification, the accompanying drawings may not show all the different ways in which the disclosed systems, apparatus, devices, methods, etc., can be used in conjunction with other systems, apparatus, devices, methods, etc.

[0098] The present invention is not limited to the examples specifically shown and described above. Rather, the scope of the present invention includes both combinations and partial combinations of the various features described above, as well as variations and modifications thereof that are not in the prior art and that can be conceived by those skilled in the art by reading the above description.

Claims

1. It is a method, A resonant cavity defined at least partially by a tubular component, An electron gun chamber hermetically sealed to the gun end of the tubular component such that its interior is continuous with the interior of the resonant cavity, A collector chamber hermetically sealed to the collector end of the tubular component such that its interior is continuous with the interior of the resonant cavity, An electromagnet coil is arranged around the outside of the tubular component, vacuum tubes Assembling the gyrotron components, after that, Applying a vacuum to the aforementioned vacuum tube, and The vacuum tube is baked by selectively heating the electron gun chamber and the collector chamber. By doing so, the vacuum tube is made into a vacuum, Methods that include...

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the electromagnetic coil is not superconducting, and assembling the gyrotron components includes assembling gyrotron components that include an electromagnetic coil that is not superconducting.

3. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 2, wherein baking the vacuum tube includes baking the vacuum tube while applying a vacuum to the vacuum tube.

4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein applying a vacuum to the vacuum tube includes applying the vacuum through a port of the electron gun chamber.

5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein applying a vacuum to the vacuum tube includes applying the vacuum through a port of the collector chamber.

6. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein applying a vacuum to the vacuum tube includes applying a vacuum through a first port of the electron gun chamber and a second port of the collector chamber.

7. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein assembling the gyrotron components includes forming the electromagnetic coil by winding it around the tubular component.

8. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein assembling the gyrotron components includes sliding the electromagnetic coil onto the tubular component.

9. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein selective heating of the electron gun chamber and the collector chamber includes heating the electron gun chamber and the collector chamber using at least one heating mantle.

10. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein selective heating of the electron gun chamber and the collector chamber includes applying cooling to the resonant cavity.

11. The aforementioned resonant cavity further includes a conductive liner, Assembling the gyrotron components includes inserting the conductive liner into the tubular component. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 10.

12. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the gyrotron component is a component of a continuous wave gyrotron.

13. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 12, further comprising using the gyrotron components in a gyrotron.

14. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 13, further comprising assembling a gyrotron including the gyrotron components.

15. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the application of the vacuum includes applying the vacuum to the electron gun chamber.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein applying the vacuum includes applying the vacuum to both the electron gun chamber and the collector chamber.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein applying the vacuum includes applying the vacuum through both (i) a first vacuum port in the electron gun chamber and (ii) a second vacuum port in the collector chamber.

18. The method according to claim 16, wherein applying the vacuum includes applying the vacuum via both (i) a first vacuum pump connected to the electron gun chamber and (ii) a second vacuum pump connected to the collector chamber.

19. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 18, wherein selective heating of the electron gun chamber and the collector chamber includes selectively heating the electron gun chamber and the collector chamber to a temperature of at least 250°C.

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein the temperature is at least 350°C, and heating the electron gun chamber and the collector chamber to the temperature includes heating the electron gun chamber and the collector chamber to a temperature of at least 350°C.

21. The method according to claim 19, wherein heating the electron gun chamber and the collector chamber includes heating the electron gun chamber and the collector chamber while the temperature of the tubular component does not exceed 80°C.

22. The method according to claim 19, wherein baking the vacuum tube comprises maintaining the electron gun chamber and the collector chamber at the temperature for at least one day.

23. The method according to claim 19, wherein maintaining the electron gun chamber and the collector chamber at the temperature for at least one day includes maintaining the electron gun chamber and the collector chamber at the temperature for at least two days.

24. Assembling the aforementioned gyrotron components is The electromagnetic coil is arranged around the tubular component, Subsequently, the electromagnetic field profile of the electromagnetic coil is verified using a probe temporarily inserted into the resonant cavity through the open end of the tubular component, which is an end selected from the group consisting of the gun end and the collector end. Subsequently, a chamber selected from the group consisting of an electron gun chamber and an electron collector chamber is hermetically sealed to the open end of the tubular component. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 23, including the method described in any one of claims 1 to 23.

25. The selected chamber is the electron gun chamber, After verifying the electromagnetic field profile, hermetically sealing the selected chamber to the open end of the tubular component includes, after verifying the electromagnetic field profile, hermetically sealing the electron gun chamber to the open end of the tubular component. The method according to claim 24.

26. The selected chamber is the collector chamber, After verifying the electromagnetic field profile, hermetically sealing the selected chamber to the open end of the tubular component includes, after verifying the electromagnetic field profile, hermetically sealing the collector chamber to the open end of the tubular component. The method according to claim 24.

27. The method according to claim 24, wherein verifying the electromagnetic field profile of the electromagnetic coil includes verifying the electromagnetic field profile of the electromagnetic coil while the other chamber of the group is already hermetically sealed to the corresponding end of the tubular component.

28. The method according to claim 24, further comprising, after verifying the electromagnetic field profile, hermetically sealing the other chamber of the group to the corresponding end of the tubular component.

29. Assembling the aforementioned gyrotron components is The electromagnetic coil is arranged around the tubular component, Subsequently, a chamber selected from the group consisting of the electron gun chamber and the collector chamber is hermetically sealed to the open end of the tubular component. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 28, including the method described in any one of claims 1 to 28.

30. The method according to claim 29, wherein the selected chamber is the electron gun chamber, and hermetically sealing the selected chamber to the open end of the tubular component includes hermetically sealing the electron gun chamber to the open end of the tubular component.

31. The method according to claim 29, wherein the selected chamber is the collector chamber, and hermetically sealing the selected chamber to the open end of the tubular component includes hermetically sealing the collector chamber to the open end of the tubular component.

32. The method according to claim 29, further comprising verifying the electromagnetic field profile of the electromagnetic coil using a probe temporarily inserted into the resonant cavity through the open end of the tubular component before hermetically sealing the collector chamber to the open end of the tubular component after the electromagnetic coil has been positioned around the resonant cavity.

33. The method according to claim 32, wherein verifying the electromagnetic field profile of the electromagnetic coil using the probe includes temporarily inserting the probe into the open end of the tubular component.

34. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 33, further comprising operating a gyrotron including the gyrotron components.

35. The method according to claim 34, wherein the gyrotron is a continuous wave gyrotron, and operating the gyrotron includes operating the continuous wave gyrotron.

36. The method according to claim 34, wherein operating the gyrotron includes continuously driving the electromagnet coil for at least one second.

37. The method according to claim 34, wherein operating the gyrotron includes operating the gyrotron without cryogenic cooling of the electromagnetic coil.

38. A device comprising components of a continuous wave gyrotron, wherein the device is Resonance cavity and, An electron gun chamber hermetically sealed at the first end of the resonant cavity such that its interior is continuous with the interior of the resonant cavity, wherein the electron gun chamber has an outer diameter, and A collector chamber hermetically sealed to the second end of the resonant cavity such that its interior is continuous with the interior of the resonant cavity, wherein the collector chamber has an outer diameter, and A vacuum tube having, An electromagnetic coil is disposed around the outside of the resonant cavity and has an inner diameter smaller than the outer diameter of the electron gun chamber and smaller than the outer diameter of the collector chamber, A device equipped with the following features.

39. The apparatus according to claim 38, wherein the outer diameter of the electron gun chamber is larger than the outer diameter of the collector chamber.

40. The apparatus according to claim 38, wherein the outer diameter of the collector chamber is larger than the outer diameter of the electron gun chamber.

41. The apparatus according to any one of claims 38 to 40, wherein the electromagnetic coil is not superconducting.

42. The apparatus according to any one of claims 38 to 41, wherein the apparatus includes the continuous wave gyrotron.

43. The apparatus according to claim 42, wherein the continuous wave gyrotron comprises a vacuum pump connected to the electron gun chamber.

44. The apparatus according to claim 43, wherein the vacuum pump is a first vacuum pump, and the continuous wave gyrotron comprises a second vacuum pump connected to the collector chamber.

45. The apparatus according to claim 42, wherein the continuous wave gyrotron does not have cryogenic cooling of the electromagnetic coil.

46. The apparatus according to claim 42, wherein the continuous wave gyrotron is configured to operate the electromagnetic coil continuously for at least one second.

47. The apparatus according to any one of claims 38 to 46, wherein the vacuum tube has a vacuum port in the electron gun chamber.

48. The apparatus according to claim 47, wherein the vacuum port is a first vacuum port, and the vacuum tube has a second vacuum port in the collector chamber.

49. A method for manufacturing components of a gyrotron, wherein the method is By arranging the electromagnet coil around the outside of the tubular component, after that, A resonant cavity defined at least partially by the tubular component, An electron gun chamber hermetically sealed at the first end of the resonant cavity such that its interior is continuous with the interior of the resonant cavity, A collector chamber hermetically sealed at the second end of the resonant cavity such that its interior is continuous with the interior of the resonant cavity, Assembling vacuum tubes, after that, Applying a vacuum to the aforementioned vacuum tube, and The vacuum tube is baked by selectively heating the electron gun chamber and the collector chamber. By doing so, the vacuum tube is made into a vacuum, Methods that include...

50. The electron gun chamber has an outer diameter, The collector chamber has an outer diameter, The coil has an inner diameter smaller than the outer diameter of the electron gun chamber and the outer diameter of the collector chamber. Arranging the coil around the outside of the tubular component includes arranging the coil around the outside of the tubular component such that the coil defines an inner diameter smaller than the outer diameter of the electron gun chamber and the outer diameter of the collector chamber. The method according to claim 49.

51. The tubular component has an outer diameter, The coil has an inner diameter that is 20 percent or less larger than the outer diameter of the tubular component. Arranging the coil around the outside of the tubular component includes arranging the coil around the outside of the tubular component having an inner diameter that is 20% or less larger than the outer diameter of the tubular component. The method according to any one of claims 49 to 50.

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