Phase-Controlled Magnetron Development
Abstract
The research objective of this project is to demonstrate through experiment that a magnetron can be phase controlled by modulation of the electron injection at either the harmonic or odd sub-harmonic of the operating frequency. The approach is to build an experimental, low power magnetron in a test chamber and to use Gated Field Emission Arrays (GFEAs) as the electron source. The anode from a commercially available magnetron will be used in the experiments to tie the project to real-world devices. The GFEAs are addressable to allow current injection at different spatial locations while the current is modulated to control the electron spokes and, hence, phase. The experimental plan is based on prior simulation work which demonstrated the feasibility of the modulation concept as a method to control phase. Additional simulation efforts in this project will be used to predict and to analyze the experimental results. The magnetron will be a 10 cavity strapped device with a ten-sided, faceted cathode structure. The GFEAs will be placed below the interaction space of the magnetron by using electron hop funnels to allow current injection. Hence, the GFEAs will be protected from the high electric fields and ion back-bombardment of the interaction region. The GFEAs will be divided into 4 spatial elements for modulation to control the electron spoke locations in time. Demonstration of phase control in this experiment will validate the concept and open the opportunity to combine multiple low power magnetrons to generate high total power with lower cost and complexity that traditional high power magnetrons. The technique should be a significant improvement over present phaselocking techniques. Such phase controlled magnetrons could be used in radar systems and electronic warfare opening an entire new realm of applications.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Mar 24, 2016
- Source ID
- FA95501610083
Entities
People
- Jim Browning
Organizations
- Air Force Office of Scientific Research
- Boise State University
- United States Air Force