Analysis of microwave amplifier and frequency multiplier tube with a multipactor electron gun

The performance analysis was made for a multipactor microwave tube with the aim of realizing a microwave amplifier or a frequency multiplier tube with a multipactor cathode with high efficiency and high power. The possibility for producing the multipactor tube with high efficiency and high power was shown by using effectively the characteristics of the multipactor cathode which emits pulsed electron current with narrow band, synchronizing with high frequency period. As the operating conditions for the multipactor cathode, it was shown that the wide spacing of the cathode was needed for the operation in high operating power, and the narrow spacing was needed for the operation in high efficiency and for reducing power consumption. It was also shown that there were the best values of the high-frequency voltage for the cathode operation. The study by the simulation for the multipactor cathode and for the acceleration zone of electron current was also performed to examine the possible performance for a microwave amplifier and a frequency multiplier tube. For the use of the multipactor cathode with a spacing of 1 mm, the conversion efficiency for d. c. input power was 86, 56 and 31 % for the primary, the secondary and the tertiary harmonic wave amplifications, respectively. (Asami, T.)