Magnetron
Magnetron
Magnetron
Microwave Sources
Content
• Limitations and losses of conventional tubes at microwave
frequencies
• Classification of Microwave tubes
• Two cavity klystron (Only Qualitative Treatment)
• Reflex Klystrons - structure, Velocity Modulation, Applegate
diagram, mathematical theory of bunching, power output,
efficiency, oscillating modes and O/P characteristics
• Slow wave structures
• Structure of Helix TWT and amplification process
• Magnetrons - different types, cylindrical travelling wave
magnetron – Hull cutoff and Hartree conditions
• Illustrative Problems
M-Type Tubes
• Magnetron is high power microwave oscillator and it
forms the basic various microwave radar transmitter
system even today.
• Because of the crossed field between the cathode and anode, the electrons
emitted from the cathode are influenced by the magnetic field to move in
curved paths.
• If the DC magnetic field is strong enough, the electrons will not arrive in the
anode but return instead to the cathode consequently, the anode current is
cut-off.
These provide oscillations of very high peak power and are very
useful in radar application.
• The open space between the anode and cathode is called the
interaction space, where the electric and magnetic fields interact to
force the electrons.
• This π/4 mode is seldom used in practice because it does not gives
suitable characteristics and the more commonly used mode is the π
mode.
• Depending on the
relative strengths
of the electric and
magnetic fields
the electrons
emitted from the
cathode and
moving towards
the anode.
Contd.,
• In the absence of oscillation and when magnetic field is zero, i.e.,
B = 0, the electron travels straight from the cathode to anode due
to radial electric field force acting on it shown by electron path a1
in Fig. Above.
• The voltages and field are arranged so that, by the time the
electron ‘a’ comes at position (2), the RF field would have
reversed its polarity. The electron ‘a’ encounters a situation
similar to position (1) and it is further slowed down at this stage
and another interaction of same types occurs at position (3), the
electron ‘a’ again gives out it energy.
Contd.,
• Finally, the electron ‘a’ strikes one of the anode poles and gets
attracted by positive voltage on the anode pole.
• In this way, the favoured electron like ‘a’ spend considerable time
in the interaction space and finally strike the anode surface.
• The electrons emitted from the cathode travel out through these
spokes regularly delivering energy to the oscillations untill they
reach the anode and are absorbed. Thus, these spokes transfer
energy to the oscillations and these are sustained by the device.
The resonant modes of magnetron are very close to each other and there is always
a possibility of mode jumping.
The weaker modes have frequencies differing very little from the dominant mode
(π-mode) and the purity of vibrations may be lost.
There are two methods for separations of dominant mode from the other mode.
1. By using strapping ring
2. By using rising sun anode.
1. By using strapping ring
• The frequency of the π-mode is separated from the frequency of
the other mode by strapping to ensure that the alternate anode
pole have identical polarities.
• This takes place regardless of whether these load variations are purely
resistive or involve reactive load variations. However, it is more severe
in case of reactive variations.
• Substituting value of ω
Performance Characteristics of Cavity Magnetron