Compact Charged Particle Accelerator Using Beam Blocker Grating
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing charged particle accelerators are bulky, expensive, and require complex maintenance, while traditional methods for generating short electron pulses rely on expensive ultrafast lasers with performance issues.
Innovation Solution
The development of compact devices and systems that generate short charged particle packets or pulses without ultrafast lasers, using a charged particle deflector and beam blockers to create sub-picosecond electron packets, and compact linear charged particle accelerators with high-Q RF resonators for efficient particle acceleration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If traditional charged particle accelerators are used, then particle acceleration capability is achieved, but device size and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The accelerator structure is divided into multiple discrete beam blockers arranged in a linear array, each independently positioned to create specific cavity resonances. This segmentation allows the system to achieve acceleration functionality without requiring a single large continuous structure, thereby reducing overall device volume while maintaining particle acceleration capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from traditional linear accelerator geometry to a planar configuration where beam blockers are arranged in a two-dimensional array. This dimensional change allows the electric fields to be generated in a compact plane rather than requiring extensive linear space, effectively reducing the device's volume footprint while preserving acceleration functionality.
2Duration of action of moving object
If ultrafast lasers are used to generate short electron pulses, then pulse duration is reduced, but cost and performance issues increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces the optical laser system with an electromagnetic resonance-based system using beam blockers and RF cavities. This substitution eliminates the need for expensive ultrafast laser equipment while achieving comparable or superior pulse duration control through electromagnetic field manipulation, thereby reducing manufacturing cost and maintenance complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system controls electron pulse duration by adjusting RF frequency and beam blocker positioning parameters rather than relying on laser pulse characteristics. By changing electromagnetic field parameters (frequency, phase, amplitude) and geometric parameters (blocker spacing, orientation), the system achieves precise control over pulse duration without the cost and complexity associated with ultrafast laser systems.
3Volume of moving object
If compact accelerator structures are used, then device size is reduced, but acceleration efficiency may decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The beam blockers are designed to resonate at specific RF frequencies, creating strong localized electric fields through resonant oscillation. This resonance effect amplifies the accelerating fields within the compact structure, maintaining high acceleration efficiency despite the reduced device size. The resonant vibration of the beam blockers compensates for the smaller volume, ensuring sufficient power transfer to the particle beam.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables cost-effective, compact electron pulse generators for applications like terahertz-wave generation and time-resolved microscopy, achieving high-energy particle acceleration with reduced size and power consumption.
Implementation Method 1
a charged particle deflector for receiving a stream of continuous charged particles propagating along a first direction. The charged particle deflector is operable to deflect the stream of continuous charged particles to a set of directions different from the first direction
Implementation Method 2
This array of beam blockers can interact with the deflected stream of charged particles and divide the stream of the charged particles into a set of short particle packets
Implementation Method 3
the charged particle deflector can be configured with a ramp voltage applied across the pair of electrodes, wherein the ramp voltage causes the continuous electron beam passing through the charged particle deflector to sweep across the array of beam blockers
Implementation Method 4
coplanar waveguide resonators formed on the planar platform as RF cavities to achieve high voltages at a particle path defined by the coplanar waveguide resonators for accelerating charged particles
Data Source
AI summary
A system that generates short charged particle packets or pulses (e.g., electron packets) without requiring a fast-switching-laser source is described. This system may include a charged particle source that produces a stream of continuous charged particles to propagate along a charged particle path. The system also includes a charged particle deflector positioned in the charged particle path to deflect the stream of continuous charged particles to a set of directions different from the charged particle path. The system additionally includes a series of beam blockers located downstream from the charged particle deflector and spaced from one another in a linear configuration as a beam-blocker grating. This beam-blocker grating can interact with the deflected stream of charged particles and divide the stream of the charged particles into a set of short particle packets. In one embodiment, the charged particles are electrons. The beam blockers can be conductors.