Modulation Capabilities Of Different Grid Designs For A Cs-ba Tacitron

An experimental determination of the modulation capabilities of different grid designs in a Cs-Ba tacitron is made as a function of operating parameters. Results show that as the modulation frequency increases, the current modulation of the device is harder to control (ignite and extinguish) due to a decrease in the ion leakage rate from the discharge volume after the device is ignited. As the transparency decreases from 34 % to 26 % for a grid with 0.5 mm apertures, the device is harder to ignite, but easier to extinguish. Lowering the transparency of the grid also increases the forward voltage drop, at a given cesium reservoir temperature, and decreases by 50 % the range of cesium reservoir temperatures at which the device modulates. However, decreasing the grid aperture size makes the device easier to extinguish without affecting ignition.