A cathode support structure for use in a magnetron oscillator experiment

Abstract

A low temperature co‐fired ceramic (LTCC) material system has been used to develop a protype field emission cathode structure for use in an experimental magnetron oscillator. The structure is designed for used with 30 gated field emission array (GFEA) die electrically connected through silver metal traces and electrical vias. To approximate a cylinder, the cathode structure (48 mm long and 13.7 mm in diameter) is comprised of 10 faceted plates which cover the GFEA dies. Slits in the facet plates allow electron injection. The GFEA die (3 mm × 8 mm) are placed in axial columns of 3 and spaced azimuthally around a cylindrical support structure in a staggered configuration resulting in 10 azimuthal locations. LTCC manufacturing techniques were developed in order to fabricate the newly designed cathode with seven layers wrapped to form the cylinder with electrical traces and vias. Two different cathode wrapping techniques and two different via filling techniques were studied and compared. Two different facet plate manufacturing techniques were studied. Finally, four different support stand configurations for firing the cylindrical structure were also compared with a square post stand having the best circularity and linearity measurements of the fired structure.

Document Details

Document Type
Pub Defense Publication
Publication Date
Jul 03, 2020
Source ID
10.1111/ijac.13581

Entities

People

  • Daylon Black
  • Donald Plumlee
  • Jacob Davlin
  • Jim Browning
  • Omar Bentancourt
  • Patrick Ward
  • Ryan Harper

Organizations

  • Air Force Office of Scientific Research
  • Boise State University
  • Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Tags

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Electromagnetic Wave Scattering and Antenna Radiation Engineering
  • Integrated Circuit Design and Technology.
  • Plasma Physics.

Technology Areas

  • Microelectronics
  • Microelectronics - Microelectromechanical Systems
  • Space
  • Space - Hall-Effect Thruster