Recent Results from the X-Band Pulsed Magnicon Amplifier

A frequency-doubling magnicon amplifier at 11.4 GHz has been designed and built as an alternative microwave source for testing high power RF components and accelerating structures. The tube is designed to produce ∼ 60 MW, ∼ 1.2 microsecond pulses at 58% efficiency and 59 dB gain, using a 470 kV, 220 A, 2 mm-diameter beam. In the first tests the output power was limited to a level of 26 MW in a 200 nsec pulse. This limitation was believed to be caused by oscillations in the collector. Preliminary experimental results of magnicon tests with a new collector are presented in this paper.