Unit-II: Wave Tubes

Purpose
How high power waves signals are generated and amplified?

Topics
Frequency Limitation of Conventional Tubes
Multi-cavity Klystron
Reflex Klystron
Magnetron
Twt
 This unit will introduce to tube electronics..

.Which primarily deals with controlled flow of carriers in

evacuated glass chamber..

Whereas in slid state electronics, carriers are confined

within the solid materials e.g. silicon, CNTs etc. Which
mostly operates at Low Power

Vacuum Tubes
Triodes, Tetrodes, Pentodes etc.
High Power (<1GHz)
Types of
Tube Electronics wave Tubes
Klystron, Magnetron, TWT etc.
High Power (>1GHz)

Why Vacuum Tubes Fails (>1GHz)?

Why wave Tubes Successfully Operate (>1GHz)?

2
 Why tubes?
Certain applications areas where high
power wave signals are required and
low power electronics fails!

These are: RADAR, Satellite, Military,

outer space activity etc.

RADAR- radio detection and ranging

3
Potential areas..
Satellite is a special communication technique to broadcast/receive
message over large population on earth

Large dish

Satellite

Through use of wave tube Large dish antennas are used to

devices, it possible to send transmit high power wave signals
messages over long distance for outer space monitoring purpose
In Military, high power wave signals are used for attacking the enemy
target

These applications highlights the importance of generation of high

power wave signals, where Low Power Electronics fails!
Indian Scenario.
Sir J.C. Bose started wave related research
in India in year 1890

India is among several countries of the

world, which invest in research involving
these devices but its share compared to
other developed nations is significantly
lower.

Ref: IEEE International Vacuum Electronics Conference (IVEC) from

21-24 Feb. 2011, Bangalore, India, Page (s): 7 10.
 Why Vacuum Tubes Fail?
These are very generalized terms. but can be understood in
context with a TRIODE

Lead Inductance

inter-Electrode Capacitance

Possible Reasons!
Transit Time

GBP Limitation!

Ref: Lio Book (3rd ED); pp. 338-341 ; Kennedy Book (4th ED); pp. 378-380
 Lead Inductance
Triode Model
G P
Load

Inductance
K

Cgp=gate- to- plate capacitance ; Cgk=gate- to- cathode capacitance ; rp= plate
resistance
Load= tuned at operating frequency

Parasitic Lk (> 1 GHz) reduces the gain due to negative voltage series feedback
Inter- electrode capacitance
LF< 1 GHz wave> 1 GHz
P (O/P)
Inter- electrode P (O/P)
capacitance Inter- electrode
capacitance
C = 1 pF
C = 1 pF
1 59k
~1 0

G (I/P)
G (I/P)

C
C

There is no significant signal loss

through inter- electrode capacitance Extremely low reactance SHORT out
the signal
Works as an amplifier as signal gets
through the device and suitably Fails to works as an amplifier
amplified (> 1 GHz)
 Transit Time
In triode cathode (C) is heated up electrons
and emit electrons

Time taken by the electrons to Cathode

reach from cathode to plate

Transit time is negligible
compared to time period T of the
signal i.e. <<T for f<1GHz
is comparable to T i.e. T for Cathode
f>1GHz and triode efficiency ()
reduces. Heating

Coated with
Why is reduced? tungston- iridium
 REASON Being
P (+) Grid potential oscillate back and forth 1 0
to 1 00 time during transit time for
f> 1 GHz

Grid potential + ve Grid potential - ve

Less carrier reach to the plate, which makes

Electron efficiency lower
oscillation G

Other consequences
Lower transcoductance (gm) as less carrier
reach to the plate
Plate and grid are 1 800 phase outcause
C (- ) problem in design of a feedback oscillator
 GBP Limitation!
Amplifier + Resonant load

Green = Gain is higher but lower BW

Green = Gain is lower but higher BW

Gain

Constant GBP

Frequency Triodes suffer from this problem

Solution!
wave tubes could maintain higher gain over WIDER band
 Re- Cap!
Tubes electronics primarily deals with carriers flow
in evacuated chamber!

There are certain potential areas, which require high power

wave signalswhere tubes devices continue to be an
important class of Study.

Vacuum tubes involving triode, pentode etc. performances

degrade at wave (>1GHz)

wave tubes successfully overcome their limitations

and deliver credible performance over GHz band.
 wave Tubes
+
They are robust & reliable

Performa satisfactorily over longer period

High Efficiency
 -
More bulkier than semiconductor
technology

Requires high dc power

Even with some down sides, they are the potential

device technology and continue to be so in future

They perform the tasks of signal generation and

amplification in wave band.........what the vacuum
tubes perform at lower band
 Engine Behind
Principle on which wave tubes work

Velocity of e-beam (generated through

thermionic emission) is modulated by applied
rf field and

transit-time is utilized for credible

performance in wave band.

What is VM?
 What is VM?
An arrangement to produce Velocity when Cavity Maintained at positive potential
fine beam of electrons electrons enter to collects electron from gun

Electron Collector
Gun
Velocity : v0 Velocity: v(t)=v0v

Velocity when
electrons leave

d = separation between
two walls of cavity

rf field

When electrons are passed through rf field, some electrons have their velocities
increased and some will have their velocities decreased when voltage is reversed.
 Wave Tubes

Construction!

Study How do they work?

Plan
Applications aspects
2-Cavity Klystrons
Klystrons are velocity-modulated tubes that are
used in RADAR and communication equipments as an
amplifiers and oscillators..

They include:
e-Gun, Cavities
Elaborate potential arrangement for acceleration
of carriers

They Perform Well

Efficiency 25-40 %
Power Gain 30-60 dB in wave band
 Construction!
Buncher Catcher

rf Input rf Output

v0

v(t1 ) L+ d L+ 2d
d

V0 Bunched electron

Collector
Bunching space L
Electron gun t0 t1
t2 t3
 e- Gun
An arrangement by which fine electron beams are produced

electrons It include:
Heater, Filament, Cathode Coated with
tungston-iridium for long life
performance
Cathode

When heated, electrons are emitted

and with use of appropriate
potentials they can be accelerated

Cathode

Heating
 Cavities
These are non-resonant structures and used to feed input to and collect
output from wave tubes.
l
Using the Maxwells theory, one can arrive at the final
expression as:
d
d
tan l =
2b 2a
a 2 ln(b a )
Since it involves tangent function, which has infinite
number of solution and therefore multiple frequencies can
be supported.
This can be interpreted as number of tank circuits connected in parallel
(deferring slightly in their central frequencies).

C1 C2 Cn 1 1
f1 = ; f2 = so on...
L1 ... 2 L1C1 2 L2C 2
L2 Ln

Ref: Lio Book; pages: 342-345

Graphical Interpretation
Each frequency is distinct with f n .... f 4 > f 3 > f 2 > f 1

Overall
response

Gain

f1 f2 f3 f4 f5 Frequency

Overall response looks like.. Higher gain over wider band

 l
Solution!
d
tan l =
2 f a 2 ln(b a )
d
2b 2a
d
f = k cot l ; k =
2 a 2 ln(b a )

f has infinite solution

i.e. cavities can support number of frequencies

cot l

l
 Working!
Applied rf on cavity modulates the velocity of electrons velocity
which help to form e- cluster

Energy
pulse

e- cluster

These pulses arrive at catcher (output) at regular interval

transfer energy to weak rf signal at catcher. and amplified
output is obtained.
 rf
At Glance!
V.M. e- cluster/bunch

Catcher cavity energy pulses

Amplified Output
e- cluster/Bunch
Some electrons enter into cavity at a time when rf field is negative,
their velocity get SLOWER
- SLOWER

Some electrons enter into cavity at a time when rf field is in positive,

their velocity get FASTER

+ FASTER

Some electrons enter into cavity at a time when rf field is in ZERO

their velocity do not change
NO
CHANGE
Somewhere down the DRIFT SPACE, SLOWER electrons
catch with FASTER and form CLUSTER.

Better insight can be understood by APPLEGATE (A-) diagram

Applegate (A- ) Bunch
formation
A displacement-time Graph

L No One bunch per cycle

Change
Draw A- over 2- cycles- - HW

gap gap
voltage Vs = V1 sin(t )

V1 << V0 time
Bunching limit
Answer!
 Higher Order
Cluster
Out of cluster

Applegate
diagram
Bunch limit Bunch limit Bunch limit

rf t

"Bunch window"
Slow electrons catch with fast and form cluster down the drift space.
Many out of cluster electrons reach at the cavity and cause
undesirable effect on gain and noise performances.
 Outcome!
Towards Catcher

e- cluster reach at cavity at regular interval and transfer energy

to weak rf signal- - - as a result amplified output is obtained.
 Energy Transfer
(Concept)
How energy from moving pulse is transfer to rf field?

A
t

When any system is switched ON/OFF, oscillations

are set up but they quickly die out.

Such oscillations ALL frequencies

 Energy Transfer
Arrive at catcher
at f rate.
Catcher oscillations

Oscillation
at f is
sustained
and rest
A other die
t out.

Catcher oscillations contain all sorts of frequencies including those at f.

How the energy transfer can be maximized?

By careful use of transit time

Answer! Catcher oscillation
2
If pulse arrive
at 1 , it sees
an accelerating
rf field- - energy
expenditure
i. e. Transit time has occur
been put on use
1
If pulse arrive
at 2, it sees a
retarding field- -
energy extracted
Moving Pulse and supplied to
rf signal

When the
energy pulse
arrive at
catcher can be
L controlled by
appropriate
choice of drift
Pulse should be made to arrive at a point when rf space L.
field at the positive peak and going negative. Why?

For better energy extraction and higher amplification

Input At Glance!
e- cluster/bunch Energy pulse

Catcher cavity equiv model

C1 C2 Cn
L1 ...
L2 Ln

Explained how klystron

works as an Amplifier Amplified output
 Summary!
Learned how 2-cavity Klystron Works!

2-cavity : A very few es form

cluster is poor (10-15%)

Multi-cavity (>2-cavity): A large number

of them participate and form improved
e-clusterhigher (40-50%)
Multi- Cavity Klystrons
2- Cavity Klystron with additional
intermediate cavities
They operate over freq range:
0. 25- 95GHz
Improved efficiency (40- 50%) and
better gain (~45 dB) compared to
2- cavity
Specifically used in:
UHF TV Tx in the freq range from 0.5-0.9 GHz and
power range from 55-100kW
Satellite earth station Tx in the freq range from
5.9-14 GHz and power range from 8-20kW
 Construction!
Include similar elements as in 2- cavity but with additional intermediate cavities

Input Intermediate Output Intermediate

cavities help
in forming
better
e- cluster. .

high energy
pulses are
Electron gun Collector generated
 Energy Pulses!
Multi- cavity =2- cavity
Multi- cavity + Intermediate cavity

e- cluster of 1 st cavity induce rf in

2nd. . carriers get further velocity
modulated . as a result improved
clustered are producedprocess is
continued.

2- cavity
Towards Collector
e- clusters improve as they move
toward collector compared to fixed
value cluster in 2- cavity
Ref: Lio Book (3rd ED); pages: 362- 363
Input
At Glance!
Improved e- cluster High energy pulse

Catcher cavity equiv model

C1 C2 Cn
L1 ...
L2 Ln

Improved
performance
> 40% Higher Output
Gain 50- 60 dB
 A Quantitative
Look!
Mathematical Expressions for Efficiency and
Gain for 2- Cavity Klystron will be presented

Some of the concepts developed for basic

Klystron shall be extended for more advance
devices with multiple cavities
 Analysis i
BCC

g = = ( t 1 t0 ) = Transit time angle

g
1
t1
sin( g / 2 )
< Vs >=
V
t0
1 sin( t ) = V1
g / 2
sin( t 0 + g / 2 )

sin( g / 2 )
i = = Beam Coupling Coefficient (BCC)
g / 2
2e g
v( t1 ) = V0 + iV1 sin( t 0 + ) = VM When iV1 << V0
m 2
VM
iV1 g iV1 g
v ( t 1 ) = v0 1 + sin( t 0 + ) Or v ( t 1 ) = v 0 1 +
sin( t 1 )
2V0 2 2V0 2
Ref: Lio Book (3rd ED. ); pages: 345- 357
 Transit Time
L L L iV1 g
T = t 2 t1 = = sin( t 1 )
v ( t 1 ) v0 v0 2V0 2

L L iV1 g
T = t 2 t 1 = sin( t 1 )
v0 v0 2V0 2
DC transit Bunching
angle 0 parameter X

L iV1 X depend on: drift space L, applied rf V1 ,

X
= accelerating potential V0 etc.
v0 2V0
 Energy Pulses
Towards Catcher

Periodically arriving pulse current i2 can be expressed as:

i 2 = I 0 + 2 I 0 J n ( nX ) cos[n ( t 0 )] for t t 2
n= 1

i 2 f = 2I 0 J 1 ( X ) ; fundamental component

i2=catcher pulse current; I0=DC current; Jn= Bessels function of nth

order; X =bunching parameter
 Bessel Function
Jn(X)

Maximum
Value i2f is maximum when X=1.841
0. 582

(X)
1 . 841
 LOPT
Spacing L
between
2-cavity need
to be
carefully
adjusted
for better
result.
L
With X=1.841, L=LOPT and with this value L performances are
improved..because i2 induced maximum voltage in the cavity
(O/P)
L iV1
0 ;
= X = 0
v0 2V0
3.682v0V0
LOPT =
iV1
 Efficiency
Cavity model Load

0 I2 0 I 2V2
Pout =
2
Pout 0 I 2V2
= =
Pdc 2 I 0V0
C L Rsh I2MAX=2I00. 582; when X=1 . 841
V2
If 0 1 and V2=V0, then
f =
1 MAX 58%
2 LC
Practical value

1 5- 30%
 Gain AV
V2 0 I 2 Rsh
AV = =
V1 V1
L
I 2 = 2 0I 0 J 1 ( X ) 0 =
v0

V0 V1
R0 = X = 0
I0 2V0

02 0 J 1 ( X )
AV = Rsh
R0 X
Space- charge effect
(2- Cavity)
Electrons in cluster repel each others, when this effect is accounted, then
the magnitude of current i2 induced in catcher cavity can be expressed as:

1 I 0
i2 = i V1
2 V0 q

I0= dc beam current ; q= Plasma frequency

V2 = O i2 R sh 1 I 0 2
V2 = O V1 Rsh
2 V0 q
2
1 I
= V2 / Rsh = 0 O4 V1 Rsh
2 2
POUT
4 V0 q
2
1 I 0 4
2
POUT POUT 1 I 0 V1 4
AV = = O Rsh Rshi = = O Rsh
4 V0 q I 0V0 4 V0 V0 q
2
V1 / Rshi

Where Rshi is resistance of input cavity Ref: Lio Book; pages: 363- 367
 4- Cavity
V1 1 st 2nd 3rd

+ ve

1 I 0 2
I 2 = O i2 = O V1 V2 = I 2 Rsh I 3 V3 I 4 V4
2 V0 q
 Analysis 4- Cavity
Current expression i3 for 2nd intermediate cavity can be written as:

1 I 0 1 I 0 2
i3 = 0 V2 V2 = O V1 Rsh
2 V0 q 2 V0 q

2
1 I
2

i3 = 0 O3 V1 Rsh 1 I 0 4
V3 = O i3 Rsh = V R 2
4 V0 q 4 V0 q
O 1 sh

Similarly from 3rd cavity

3
1 I 0 1 I 0 6
i4 = 0 V3 V4 = O i4 Rsh = V R 2

2 V0 q 8 V0 q
O 1 sh

6 Derive
1 I 0 12 2 4 2 expression
= V4 / Rsh = O V1 Rsh Rsh
2
POUT for - - HW
64 V0 q

Carry out similar analysis for 7 cavity klystron- - HW

Klystron Oscillators
(Concept)
Discussed how Klystron works as an amplifier

Oscillator = Amplifier + Proper feedback

A
t
When any system is switched ON/OFF, due to noise
oscillations are set up but they quickly die out.

These oscillations contain all sorts of frequencies.

 Energy Transfer
Energy supplied
through feed back
Cavity oscillations

Sustained
Oscillation
A
t

Oscillation corresponding to feedback tank circuit, which decides the

oscillator frequency, is sustained and rest other die out.

Draw circuit- - - HW
Oscillator's Circuits
Oscillator=Amplifier + Proper feedback Oscillations
O/P started
through
FB switching/
noise is
sustained
at f
through
proper FB

V0
 >1 Cavity
In Multi- cavity (> 1 cavity) frequency adjustment of each cavity is
required.

f f f f + ve

--------

f f+ f f+ 2f f+ 3f

If each cavity is adjusted to same frequency (say f), then tuning is

called synchronous and staggered if tuned differently.

What are the possible solutions?

 Solution!
To built the wave device with
single cavity

No tunability issue

The device is called Reflex Klystron

Due to single cavity their performances are

lower compared to multi- cavity
Ref: Lio Book (3rd ED) ; Pages: 373- 382
 Application!
Mostly used as low power signal
source (oscillator) in 4-220GHz band

Why as an oscillator?

due to natural feedback system

 Construction!
Consists of similar elements as that of Multi- cavity Klystron e. g.
e- gun, cavity etc.
rf output Repellar
Electron gun
- peak

0 v0 v0

v(t1 )
+ peak L
d

L+ d
VR
VO t0 t1

Repellar space 0 t2 Z
 E- Cluster/Bunch
+ peak = electrons see positive rf potential and go deeper into repallar
space;

+
- peak= electrons see negative rf and travel less deep into repallar
space.

-
0 = no change in velocity.

Electrons getting out of the gun over the period (+ peak 0 - peak) will have
fair chance to return back to the cavity together and form a cluster.
 Outcome!
e- clusters are formed and arrive at cavity and transfer energy to rf
field.

Returns to Cavity

L should be adjusted carefully, so that cluster should arrive at a time when

cavity oscillation at + peak and Going Negative

For better energy extraction

+ peak and going negative and higher performance
Pulse

Better understanding of how electrons are clustered can be understood

through APPLEGATE Diagram (A- )
Applegate (A- ) e- cluster
1 Mode
L
Mode

A- diagram
Reference point for 2 mode
- - HW

T = n + 3/4
0
One bunch + Peak - Peak t
per cycle

Bunch Limit Electron

bunch
Electron bunch
Reflex Oscillators
(Concept)

A
t

When any system is switched ON/OFF, due to noise

oscillations are set up but they quickly die out.

These oscillations contain all sorts of frequencies.

Oscillation of particular frequency is sustained through energy received

through the arriving cluster (Energy Pulse) once in every rf cycle
 Noise/
Transient
Working!

V. M. e- cluster

rf output energy pulse

Noise/
Transient At Glance!
V. M e- cluster energy pulse

Cavity equivalent model

C1 C2 Cn
L1 ...
L2 Ln

rf Output
A Quantitative Look!
Mathematical Expressions for Efficiency
and fOSC for Reflex Klystrons will be
derived

Some of the concepts developed shall be

used to develop theory for these
devices
 Analysis
Vr + V0 + V1 sin( t ) Electric field expression
E=
L

d 2z Vr + V0
m 2 = eE = e V1 sin( t ) << Vr + V0
dt L

dz
At t = t1 , = v ( t1 ) and z = d
dt

e( Vr + V0 )
z= ( t t 1 )2 + v ( t 1 )( t t 1 ) + d
2 mL
 Transit Time
t2= time when cluster return back to - Ve
cavity

Z=d when t=t2 and motion along Z can

be expressed as:
d
e( Vr + V0 )
0= ( t 2 t 1 )2
2 mL
+ v ( t 1 )( t 2 t 1 )

The round- trip transit time

T= t2- t1 can be written as:
0 t2 Z

2 mL iV1 g
T = t 2 t1 =
'
v ( t 1 ) v ( t 1 ) = v0 1 + sin( t 1 )
e( Vr + V0 ) 2V0 2
Bunch Parameter X
2mL i V1 g
T = t 2 t1 =
'
v 0 1 + sin( t 1 )
e(Vr + V0 ) 2V0 2
DC transit
angle T0'

iV1 '
g
T = ( t 2 t1 ) = T
'
0
'
T0 sin(t1 )
2V0 2
DC transit Bunching
angle 0' parameter X

X gives measure of how well the cluster is formed and depends

on repellar space L, rf signal V1 and repallar voltage Vr etc.
 Periodic Pulse
returns to Cavity

Periodically arriving pulse current i2 can be expressed as

i2 = I0 + 2I0 J n(nX') cos[n(t 0 )]
n =1

i2f = 2I0J 1(X') ; fundamental component

i2=cavity pulse current; I0=DC current; Jn= Bessels function of nth

order; X =bunching parameter

With appropriate L, X=1.841 can be adjusted and performances

are improved..because i2 induced maximum voltage in the cavity
(O/P)
 Efficiency
Reference

2 mL
0' =
v0 = 2 n 0
e( Vr + V0 ) 2 + Peak - Peak

Bunch Limit

. . For the purpose of maximum energy extraction

iV1 V 2 X '
2 X ' J1( X ' )
X' = 0' 1
= =
2V0 V0 ( 2n )
i ( 2n )
2 2
' '
V1 I 2 2 V I X J ( X )
Pac = = V1 I 0 i J 1 ( X ) =
' 0 0 1
2
( 2n )
2
. . Pac collected depends on n
 fOSC
2e 2 mL
T = 2n
'
v0 = V0 T =
'
v0
0
2 m
0
e( Vr + V0 )

V0 ( 2n )2 e
= 2
f OSC = / 2
( Vr + V0 ) 2
8 2 L2 m

By changing Vr, frequency of oscillation can be electronically adjusted

If fm is applied on repellar voltage Vr, then frequency modulated signal

can be generated
 Observations!
Performance of wave devices depend on how long rf interact with
e- beamIf it is for short, then performance is lower & higher if it is
longer.

e. g. 2- Cavity & Reflex performances are lower due to short interaction

time

Better performance result when interaction is little longer e. g.

Multi- cavity Klystron

They are called Type- I devices

Magnetron & TWT are the two wave tubes where rf & e- beam interact
CONTINUOUSLY

As a result better performance is achieved- - - Type- II

 Magnetron
Used as an oscillator

A crossed fields device

High performances
Application Areas..
As a signal source in upper UHF up to 1 00GHz
Used in high power RADAR and communication
equipments

Magnetron

wave oven and for

industrial heating

wave oven with cover off

 Construction!
Consists of cathode and anode, no. of cavities and field
arrangement to guide the e- beam

Cavity Anode(0V)
There can be
many cavities
Output cavity but magnetron
with 08
cavities are
more
When popular. .
cathode is due to
heated up improved
es are performances
emitted
out
radically.
Electric field

Cathode (- ve) Interaction space

Magnetic field
 Basic Concept!
Motion
under "E" Both "E+H"

Direction
H- field of motion

Electrons move radially By appropriate choice of H,

under influence of electric electron can be made to rotate
field with angular velocity c
mV 2 V eB 2 2 m e
= eVB C = = T= =
R R me C eB
 Working!
Phase shift n between two adjacent cavities in N cavities
magnetron can be expressed as:

2 m
n = , where m is an integer
N
It has been found that magnetrons with m=4 and N=8 gives
improved performance (Ref: Kennedy book; p. 394)

n =

Magnetrons are normally operated in - mode . .

. For higher performance!

 Working!
Alternate + & - in adjacent
Mean length cavities can be regarded as
rf field
rotating rf on surface of the
tube.

L As compare to Multi- cavity rf

in this device rotate with an
angular velocity

Since rf and e- beam rotate,

then continuous interaction is
Cathode POSSIBLE

Cavity
c =
Interaction Moving
space rf field
 Working!
rf interact with e- beam continuously in Magnetrons. .

. . . As a result the device deliver high performances. . .

Energy
transfer
e- beams Weak rf High O/P
Design Maxwells equations are required to
derive rotating rf field expression
Phase constant
- component 2 m
of rf field 0 =
NL
E 0 = jE 1e j ( t 0 )
Angular velocity
of rf field
d d
L = = 0
dt 0 dt
meV 2 V eB
= eVB c = =
R R me
Angular velocity
of e- beam

Moving e- beam Moving rf field

Ref: Lio Book (3rd ED) ; Pages: 430- 436 By design

Adjust C=
 Oscillation Process
Noise/ Oscillations Energy
Transient start transfer

Cavity equivalent model

C1 C2 Cn
L1 ...
L2 Ln

rf Output
 Analysis
Simplified model of coupled cavity.
N=8
Associated losses have been ignored.

O/P
Cavity

V= rf voltage
induced
C=capacitance
L=inductance
Gr= loss
Gl= load

Model of Load
Cavity
 c
Unloaded Q
How to maximize C?
0C
Qunloaded =
Gr Possible solution: Gl> > Gr but
it results in frequency
Loaded Q instability
External Q
0C 0C
Qext = Ql =
Gl Gr + Gl A more realistic solution!
Circuit
Efficiency
Gl 1 1 A reasonably high Gl satisfy
c = = = the conflicting requirements
Gl + Gr 1 + Gr Q of high efficiency &
1 + ext
Gl Qtun frequency stability.

Ref: Lio Book (3rd ED) ; Pages: 432- 433


Pgen V0 I 0 Plost
= =
Pdc V0 I 0

Pgen= rf power generated ; Pdc = dc power ; V0 = dc voltage

I0 = dc current ; Plost = power lost

1 2 0C
Pgen = NV Lio Book page no. 433
2 Ql

depends on
1 2 0C cavity structure
NV N and dc power
2 Ql 0C
= where Q l =
V0 I 0 Gr + Gl
Ref: Lio Book (3rd ED) ; Pages: 433
 TWT
Used as LNA> 3GHz

High gain over wideband

High performances
Application areas

TWT

Used as an amplifier in wave (> 1 GHz) satellite receiver.

Primarily due extremely low noise.
 Construction!
Share Common Elements except SWS like e-Gun , SWS, Attenuator,
Collector etc.
used to improve Slow wave
stability structure (HELIX) Collector Attenuator

slow down the rf

wave
reduced e- beam
spreading
+V
v0 e-
e-
e-

Electron gun RF in Focusing arrangement RF out

 SWS
e- beam velocity v0 1 0% of rf i. e. e- beam moves with much
slower as compared to rf (vp)

Therefore, for continuous interaction rf need to be slowed down.

rf Slowed rf
SWS

As a consequence of that better energy exchange from e- beam

to rf occurs . and high performance is achieved
 Insight! Along pitch
Pitch
p
p
Along
circumference

d
d

RF in Helical coil RF out p 2 + (d ) 2

vp
=
p
v
pc
; for p << d . rf has been slowed down
c p 2 + ( d )2
p
d

vp= phase velocity along the pitch ; c= phase velocity along the coil ; = pitch angle
By appropriate choice of p & d, vp can be adjusted equal vo and continuous interaction
is possible.
 Design!
By design ensure vp v0 , so as to achieve best performance

Design can be understood well with the help of Brillouin Diagram

(- plot)

Pictorial diagram help

c= Brilloin Diagram in adjusting rf velocity
equal to e- beam velocity
rf has
been
pulled pc
down vp 2eV
d v p v0 =
m

Ref: Lio Book (3rd ED) ; Page: 385
 Working Group!
The class has been divided into 05 groups for tutorial

Gr- 1 : Sr. No. 1 - 1 1 ; Gr- 2: 1 2- 22; Gr- 3: 23- 33; Gr- 4: 34- 44;
Gr- 5: 45- 55

When students are called for tutorial, they are required to report
along with:
Updated class notes;
Exercises/HWs given in class completed till date etc.

Their specific question(s) related the subject if any will also be

addressed

Purpose!
Students take interest in day- to- day class activities
 Working!
E z = E1 sin( t z) Ez=Field along the axis of helix Ref: Lio Book; Page 390

Some electrons enter into Helix at a time when rf field exerts retarding
force, their velocity get SLOWER
Ez

+ SLOWER

Some electrons enter into Helix at a time when rf field exerts accelerating
force , their velocity get faster
Ez
- FASTER

Some electrons enter into Helix at a time when rf field is in ZERO their
velocity do not change
NO CHANGE
As a result electrons begin to form cluster around those that enter
into the helix when E- field is "ZERO"
 Input Working!

e- cluster Improved e- cluster

Further improved
e-cluster
Similar Gain as
Clusters High
Are As
Formed ~80dB
Along Is
The Achieved
Helix With
And Extremely
rf Low
Amplitude noise
grow
 At Glance!
Applied rf grows as it move along the HELIX

Exponentially
rising waveform

VIN=V(0) VOUT=V(L)

Length, L
 Differences
TWT can be modeled as coupled cavities,
whereas in klystron each cavity is
independent

TWT is high gain amplifier, whereas klystron

is low gain amplifier

Interaction between rf and e-beam in TWT is

continuous, whereas in klystron only during
cavity gap

rf waves in TWT propagate, whereas the wave

in the klystron does not
 Simplified Model
TWT can be considered as n coupled cavities . where n is
extremely large.

1st 2nd 3rd nth

rf
voltage
grows
as it
move
along
the
HELIX
as a
result
high
output
is
obtained.
 Analysis!
Effort shall be on derive expression for power gain
V(0) 3 rf wave exponentially rise with L:
V(L) exp( eCL) See page no. 397
3 2
Phase Constant Circuit length Z0 = characteristic
impedance of helix
2 L e =Wavelength
e = N=
ye e

TWT gain parameter Theory is

1/ 3 in conformity!
I Z
C = 0 0
4V0
V(0)
V(L) = exp( 3NC)
3
2
V(L)
A p (dB) = 10log = 9.54 + 47.3NC
V(0)
Ap depends on N and strongly on C
Question/Answer
Why TWT is used > 3 GHz?
Because for< 3GHz helix gets bulkier

Why TWT has low noise?

Due to near complete e- clustring

Why TWT use Attenuator?

Prevent reflection from mismatched load
Concluding Remarks!
wave tubes deliver high
power in GHz band
Learned how to they work
wave tubes continue to be
an important class of study
 Working Group!
The class has been divided into 05 groups for tutorial

Gr- 1 : Sr. No. 1 - 1 1 ; Gr- 2: 1 2- 22; Gr- 3: 23- 33; Gr- 4: 34- 44;
Gr- 5: 45- 55

When students are called for tutorial, they are required to report
along with:
Updated class notes;
Exercises/HWs given in class completed till date etc.

Their specific question(s) related the subject if any will also be

addressed

Purpose!
Students take interest in day- to- day class activities