Initial operation of a high-power frequency-doubling X-band magnicon amplifier

Author

Gold, Steven H. ; Kinkead, Allen K. ; Fliflet, Arne W. ; Hafizi, Bahman ; Manheimer, Wallace M.

Author_Institution

Div. of Plasma Phys., Naval Res. Lab., Washington, DC, USA

Volume

24

Issue

3

fYear

1996

fDate

6/1/1996 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

947

Lastpage

956

Abstract

This paper reports the initial high-power operation of a frequency-doubling magnicon amplifier at 11.120 GHz. The deflection cavities operate at 5.560 GHz. The device is operating in a single-pulse mode at 650 kV and ~225 A, using a 5.5-mm diameter beam from a plasma cathode, at a magnetic field of 6.7-8.2 kG. In order to overcome a gain saturation problem in the deflection cavities caused by plasma loading, the penultimate deflection cavity is operated very close to self-oscillation. The typical output pulselength is 100 ns full width at half maximum (FWHM), and is limited by RF breakdown of the penultimate cavity. Based on the measured far-field antenna pattern and absolute calibration of all microwave components, the measured output power is 14 MW (±3 dB), corresponding to an efficiency of ~10%

Keywords

microwave power amplifiers; 11.120 GHz; 14 MW; 225 A; 5.560 GHz; 6.7 to 8.2 kG; 650 kV; RF breakdown; deflection cavities; far-field antenna pattern; gain saturation problem; high-power frequency-doubling X-band magnicon amplifier; initial high-power operation; plasma cathode; plasma loading; single-pulse mode; Antenna measurements; Cathodes; Frequency; High power amplifiers; Microwave measurements; Operational amplifiers; Particle beams; Plasma devices; Plasma measurements; Power measurement;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Plasma Science, IEEE Transactions on

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0093-3813

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/27.533100

Filename

533100