Experimental studies of long-lifetime cold cathodes for high power microwave oscillators

Electron beam parameters and material consumption were measured for edge-type explosive-emission cathodes made from different materials, working in a BWO-based HPM source, at a large number of pulses. Most of the materials demonstrated several degradation of emission properties and decrease in microwave emission after 10/sup 4/-10/sup 6/ pulses. A graphite cathode demonstrated stabilization of its emission parameters after 10/sup 7/ pulses and successful operation during 10/sup 8/ pulses at a pulse repetition rate of 100-150 pps.