Recent advances in relativistic A6 magnetron research — Improvements in start-up and efficiency

The A6 magnetron was introduced by Palevsky and Bekefi at MIT in 1979 [1]. It is the most studied relativistic magnetron in the literature. Since 2005 UNM has been studying novel advances to the A6 and to the A6 with diffraction output (MDO) that achieve higher power, greater efficiency (η), fast start of oscillations, and eliminate mode competition. This presentation summarizes recent advances pertaining to improved start-up and increased efficiency.