Analysis of the FEA amplifier

Conference · Sat Dec 30 23:00:00 EST 1995

OSTI ID:160776

Goplen, B; Ludeking, L; Smithe, D N ^[1]; Kodis, M A; Jensen, K L; Zaidman, E G ^[2]

---

1. Mission Research Corp., Newington, VA (United States)
2. Naval Research Lab., Washington, DC (United States)

Conventional emission-gated amplifiers use a gridded, thermionic cathode to density modulate the beam before it is accelerate to anode potential, the advantages of such beams being well established. At higher frequencies (2--18 GHz), field-emitter arrays (FEAs) are being developed for emission gating. Future FEA-driven amplifiers promise great efficiency and compactness--advantages which are critical in applications such as the vacuum power booster in the Microwave Power Module (MPM). A need presently exists for a methodology to analyze system performance and to evaluate research alternatives. This paper offers such a methodology. Specifically, it predicts the performance of FEA-driven klystrode and twystrode amplifiers. Power, efficiency, gain, bandwidth, and size are analyzed in terms of fundamental parameters, such as the FEA tip radius. Geometries and performance ranges of currently available FEAs are emphasized. Thin-annulus beam optics and other relevant constraints are developed as required.

• OSTI ID: 160776
• Report Number(s): CONF-950612--; ISBN 0-7803-2669-5
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

42 ENGINEERING
CATHODES
ELECTRON BEAMS
ELECTRON SOURCES
EVALUATION
FIELD EMISSION
MICROWAVE AMPLIFIERS
PERFORMANCE