George H. MacMaster

Cathode-Driven Crossed-Field Amplifier

Experimental cathode-driven (circuit-on-emitting-sole) crossed-field amplifiers have been designed and built at S-band under a Navy program (Contract No. N00039-79-C-0295). Peak and average power levels achieved were approximately one uegawatt and 20 kilowatts, respectively. Gain was nominally 30 dB at efficiencies as high as 807. Operating voltages were typically near 30 kV. Cathode-anode (circuit) isolation was better than 20 dB. Noise measurements indicated superior noise performance. CDCFAs were operated reliably for hundreds of hours. There are good prospects that efficiency, gain, and cathode-anode isolation can be iuproved even further with this device.