The design and demonstration of a multiple beam traveling-wave klystron

The traveling-wave klystron (TWK) was conceived as a superpower microwave amplifier capable of producing flat broadband power levels many times greater than can be achieved with a single beam device. This paper outlines the design philosophy, the principles of operation and their application to an S-band 10 beam traveling-wave klystron and describes the first practical demonstration at S-band in which power levels in excess of 1.0 MW with 14% bandwidth (± 1 db) and 20 db high level gain were obtained. The ever increasing range and data handling requirements of modern communication and defense systems have given rise to a need for microwave amplifiers having power output and bandwidth capabilities which greatly exceed those of present day state of the art single beam klystrons or traveling-wave tubes.