MINIATURE MICROWAVE NOISE GENERATOR.
Abstract
The interaction space is made reentrant so that the space charge may continually circulate around the device. The surface opposite the slow wave circuit is a secondary emitting cathode which is capable of emission around its full circumference. A thermionic priming source is included in the device and located flush with the cathode in the region known as the drift space. Feedback through recirculation of the electrons is avoided by employing a drift space having a smooth anode surface in place of the slow wave circuit. In the absence of phase focusing forces from the anode circuit wave, the space charge in a crossed-field amplifier rapidly debunches. This effect also prevents regeneration and a consequent periodicity in a noise generator spectrum. The operation of this device as a noise generator depends on a fundamental instability of the space charge which arises from a slipping stream interaction. This mechanism amplifies the noise energy present at the potential minimum by a large factor. The noise energy is then coupled to the slow wave circuit located on the anode side of the interaction space. Conventional crossed-field amplifier interaction then further amplifies the noise energy.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 01, 1966
- Accession Number
- AD0642188
Entities
People
- H. L. Mcdowell