Microwave Tubes

1 MW Average power

Microwave tubes

Higher power Limited life time High vacuum

1 KW

High potential
Microwave semiconductor devices

1W

Lower weight Smaller size Longer life time

1mW 0.3 1 3 10 30 100 Frequency (GHz) 300

Two possible methods of achieving high output power in microwave system

Low power High power tube semiconductor amplifier oscillator

High power tube oscillator

Important Parameters
Peak power Efficiency Bandwidth Harmonic and spurious power Manufacturability at low cost Average power Gain Frequency Intermodulation products

Type Gridded tube Klystron Helix tube Coupled cavity tube

Relative BW (%) 1-10 1-5 30-120 5-40

(%) 20-50 30-70 20-40 20-40

Gain (dB) 6-15 40-60 30-50 30-50

Relative spurious level 2 1 3 3

Relative operating voltage Low High High High

Relative complexity of operation 1 2 3 3

Average power
10 MW 1000 MW

Peak power

Klystron
1 MW 100 MW

Klystron

100 KW 10 KW

Gridded tube Helix TWT

Coupled cavity TWT

10 MW 1 MW

Gridded tube Helix TWT

Coupled cavity TWT

1 KW 100 W

100 KW 10 K W

0.3 1

10

30

100 300

0.3 1

10

30

100 300

Frequency (GHz)

Frequency (GHz)

Klystron
Microwave input Microwave output

Electron beam

Electron Gun

Beam collector

Intermediate cavity

TWT

Major applications for TWTs include: Amplifiers:

Space applications Radar Electron Counter Measure Missile

Driver for other high power RF amplifiers

Missile TWTs for Active Seekers Features that influence the design include: Minimal size and weight; Narrow-to-moderate bandwidths;. Off-to-fully-operational turn-on times of one second or less; High efficiency; High reliability after long inactive storage periods. Normally, these TWTs are of the periodic-permanent-magnet (PPM) focused helix variety. They normally utilize unique cathode-heater designs to provide the very fast warm-up required. They typically have multiple stage depressed collectors with conduction cooling.