arXiv subjects

Stephen M. Shafroth

Publications and source records attributed to Stephen M. Shafroth.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2004

Using Static Charge on Pyroelectric Crystals to Produce Self Focusing Electron and Ion Beams and Transport Through Tubes

Static charge in and on the surface of pyroelectric crystals of LiNbO3 and LiTaO3 in a dilute gas has been shown to ionize gas molecules via electron tunneling. The released electrons and positive ions are focused and accelerated according to the sign of the static uncompensated charge. The uncompensated charge is produced when the temperature of the crystal is changed from any initial temperature between about 500K and about 15K. It may be either polarization charge that is inside the crystal surface or compensation charge that is on the surface. The direction of temperature change and the polarity of the base of the crystal determine whether electrons or positive ions are accelerated toward or away from the crystal. The ionization, focusing and acceleration may continue for more than 15 days following a single change in temperature.

physics.atm-clus↗

arXiv2003

X-ray fluoresced high-Z (up to Z = 82) K-x-rays produced by LiNbO3 and LiTaO3 pyroelectric crystal electron accelerators

High-energy bremsstrahlung and K X-rays were used to produce nearly background-free K X-ray spectra of up to 87 keV (Pb) via X-ray fluorescence. The fluorescing radiation was produced by electron accelerators, consisting of heated and cooled cylindrical LiTaO3 and LiNbO3 crystals at mTorr pressures. The newly discovered process of gas amplification whereby the ambient gas pressure is optimized to maximize the electron energy was used to produce energetic electrons which when incident on a W/Bi target gave rise to a radiation field consisting of high-energy bremsstrahlung as well as W and Bi K X-rays. These photons were used to fluoresce Ta and Pb K X-rays.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2003

Pressure Dependence of Energetic (160 keV) Focused Electron Beams Arising From Heated or Cooled (LiNbO3) Pyroelectric Crystals

A new effect, gas amplification of electron energy is reported here; namely when a cylindrical pyroelectric crystal such as (LiNbO3) is contained in a concentric cylindrical chamber and is heated and then allowed to cool in a dilute gas the maximum energy of the resultant focused electron beam more than doubles as the pressure increases from 0.05 to 4 mTorr for seven different gases.

physics.atom-ph↗

arXiv2002

Electron Beam Production by Pyroelectric Crystals

Pyroelectric crystals are used to produce self-focused electron beams with energies greater than 170 keV. No high voltage power supply or electron gun is needed. The system works by simply changing the temperature of a crystal of LiNbO3 or LiTaO3 by about 100oC in dilute gas. Electron beam energy spectra as well as positive-ion-beam energy spectra and profiles are shown. A change in the crystal temperature of 100oC will cause a spontaneous change in polarization. The change in polarization will be manifested by a change in charge on the surface of the crystal. It is this uncompensated charge that produces the electric field, which accelerates the electrons, or the positive ions and gives rise to the plasma, which in turn focuses them. The source of the accelerated electrons or positive ions is gas molecules ionized near the crystal surface. When the crystal surface is negative electrons are accelerated away from it and positive ions are attracted to the surface. These positive ions reduce the net negative charge on the surface thereby reducing the electric field, which causes the electron energy to decrease over time even though the focal properties remain unchanged. When the surface is positive the reverse obtains and the positive ion beam energy decreases over time as well. We will present video clips, photographic and electronic data that demonstrate many of the characteristics and applications of these electron beams.

physics.plasm-ph↗