1. System overview:

This document summarizes essential details for materials, setup, and operation. This is for transcription, archival, and research purposes only. It is based on an old patent and is not intended as a finished product.
Operating conditions described require specialized handling and safety precautions, and the descriptions outlined here do not constitute a recommendation or endorsement to build or operate the device. Attempts to replicate or build upon these models are entirely at your own risk.

Source patent:

• Shoulders, Kenneth R. U.S. Patent No. 5,123,039. Issued June 16, 1992.
• Image: Figure 33 and 34
• Text: FROM Column 30 line 45 UNTIL Column 33 line 10

Both variable delay splitters illustrated are contained in this document given their similarities and references in the latter to the former.

1.1. Purpose

Basic Function:
A splitter is followed by two paths to two launchers, one path of fixed length and one which can be extended by moving a guide piece. The adjustable path length can be fixed to generate two EV pulses with a tunable interval.
The second adjustable delay splitter has the EVs being launched tangent to each other, in the pursuit of getting the EVs to collide or affect each other through some other means.

Core Behavior:
After an EV is emitted from the cathode, a splitter splits the EV into two paths. The main path goes around a dielectric tile (338) to increase the path length. The split-off path (344) continues through the side channel to find its way to the other side of the dielectric tile (338), where it continues into the beveled hole between dielectric tile 338 and the adjustable guide piece 348. Given the sharper corner made between the adjustable guide piece 338 and the dielectric base plate, following this path is more desirable than following along the dielectric tile 338 itself. The bevel on the inside of the adjustable guide piece ends at the corner, where the EV continues its path until it again meets the dielectric tile 338, where there again is a hole formed by a beveled edge for the EV to go through, although this time it is the stationary dielectric tile which is beveled, encouraging the EV to stick to the stationary tile instead of looping around the edge of the adjustable guide piece.

In the second adjustable splitter, there is no second beveled edge for the EV to cling to on its return path, as its return path on the adjustable guide piece terminates in a launcher, and the EV's path does not reconnect with the central stationary dielectric.

Scale & Format:
In figure 33, an indication size of 10 mm is given. Figure 34 is a cross section of the region where the adjustable guide element and the stationary dielectric tile are shown side by side, and its relative position in figure 33 is marked as "34".
Additionally, the splitter's secondary channel width is shown as ~300 micrometers, which is a lot larger than described as feasible in prior splitters. Details on the means by which EVs split aren't clear, though with such a large secondary channel it's possible that the entirety of the EV is channeled through it.
In any case, whether or not the channel width needs to be altered to a smaller width, the EV that is intended to be split also needs to be of high enough strength/intensity to carry the more loosely-bound higher-order structures.
The beveled edges have a 0.2 mm bevel.

1.2. Components

Diagram(s):

Parts list:

ID	Name	Material
330	variable-delay splitter	-
332	dielectric base	Alumina
334	splitter tile 1	alumina
336	splitter tile 2	alumina
338	stationary dielectric tile	alumina
340	cathode	mercury-wetted copper
342	main EV path	-
344	Splitter side channel	-
346	Secondary EV path	-
348	Adjustable guide element	alumina
350	Left leg of adjustable tile	alumina
352	right leg of adjustable tile	alumina
354	left-leg inner bevel	-
356	inner bevel on stationary tile	-
358	counterelectrode	sintered-on silver
360	launcher 1	alumina
362	launcher 2	alumina
Assembly notes:
Alumina structures of this size can be made out of stock alumina with precise diamond-blade machining. All parts can be made separately and (save the adjustable tile) fired together using a high-temperature glass-frit or ceramic adhesive. If the dielectrics somehow slide or warp during firing and the secondary guide channel is made inaccessible, a sufficiently thin diamond saw may be able to grind the channel down to the desired thickness and depth.

The beveled edges have a 0.2 mm bevel. For the stationary tile, this bevel should be applied before adhesion-firing it onto the base plate.

1.3. Expected Behavior

The EV launched into the 90 degree corner between the base tile 332 and the pre-splitter tile 334 needs to be of sufficient energy to have enough substructure to split off.
Given the fact that during manufacturing specific sizes may not be able to be replicated, or shrinkage may occur during sintering, path lengths may already vary more than could be calculated beforehand.
For a given extension "E", the distance between the opening of the secondary guide channel from the splitter and the start of the left leg of the adjustable guide element, 2E of extra path length will be added. Assuming careful path length or transit time calculations or calibration, a baseline extension E0 can be found for which the two EV's launch from 360 and 362 at close to the same time. The adjustable guide element 348 can be moved manually or through a mechanical linkage such as a micromanipulator (?) or lever and/or gear system (not shown), reducing and/or increasing the time taken by the secondary EV.

The key behavior to pick up on here is hinted at through figure 34. Upon entering the beveled hole 354, the EV is more tightly bound to the adjustable guide piece than the stationary tile because the beveling is on the adjustable piece. Upon exiting this beveled hole, the EV will stick to the beveled dielectric, taking the long way around to another beveled hole 356. As it enters this beveled hole, it is again attracted to the side which is beveled, which on this side isn't the adjustable guide piece but rather the stationary tile. Through being favorable towards the beveled side over the unbeveled side, the EV will choose to follow the longer edge of the adjustable piece upon entering, and choose to follow the stationary tile's edge after the path-length adjustment has been made.

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2. Device materials and environment

2.1. Materials

Suggested Materials:
The patent does not make reference to material choices besides that it needs to be dielectric. Inspiration is taken from prior designs.

• All Dielectrics may be Alumina
  • 0.5 mm thick base
  • 0.75 mm thick tiles on top, connected through fused silica or alumina and sintering
• Cathode may be mercury wetted tungsten or copper, or any arbitrary source of sufficiently strong EVs such as another EV generator
• Counterelectrode 358 may be any thin layer of conductive material, such as a thin layer of sintered silver paste

Nonconductive and dry lubricant may be needed to reduce friction between the adjustable guide piece and the dielectric base.

For the second adjustable delay splitter, phosphors were used for the targets 380 and 382.

2.2. Operating Conditions

Electrical:

• Ground plate 358 at 0V
• EV generation pulses at ~ -5kV or lower

Environment:

• Low pressure xenon (~10^-3 torr)

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3. Additional information

3.1. Additional information

We're lacking concrete parameters with which to predict the size and complexity of EVs and their substructures, and concrete parameters with which to predict the splitting behavior of splitters. Because of this, the EV may be underpowered to be split, the splitter may split unevenly, or allow the entire EV to pass or go through without splitting.

3.2. Attachments

• SplitterAdjustable1.FCStd
• SplitterAdjustable1_annotated.FCStd
• SplitterAdjustable1.stl
• SplitterAdjustable2.FCStd
• SplitterAdjustable2.stl
• Images of model