A Vacuum Diode for the Two-Sided Electron Irradiation of Objects

A vacuum diode for the two-sided electron irradiation of objects makes it possible to reduce the irradiation nonuniformity and increase the thickness of the irradiated layer of the object with a uniform distribution of the absorbed dose over the layer thickness. The cathode holder of the diode is constructed in the form of two symmetrical arms connected to a common current lead. Two cathodes are attached to the arms' ends opposite each other. The electron beam is extracted to the atmosphere through two windows–anodes positioned across from one another. The vacuum diode with metal–dielectric cathodes was tested on a -0.5 nanosecond electron accelerator (the electron energy is 0.5 MeV and the output beam power is 1 kW). The results obtained have shown that the diode ensures the two-sided irradiation of objects. Depending on the irradiated surface, the irradiation conditions can be varied by changing the cathode–anode distance in one of the arms of the diode.