Multipactor Suppression via Additive Manufacturing

Preventing multipactor is essential for ensuring vacuum electronic systems operate reliably. Textured materials have previously been shown to significantly reduce secondary electron emission. However, these surface treatments are difficult to achieve inside of coaxial structures. Additive manufacturing can be used to produce textured components that can suppress multipactor. The multipactor breakdown threshold in such coaxial transmission lines was experimentally measured using two different 3-D-printing technologies on two outer conductors. The partially 3-D-printed transmission line was found to dramatically reduce multipactor (up to 2.9 dB increase in threshold power); these experimental results consistently outperformed our prior particle-in-cell (PIC) simulations. This experimental study demonstrates proof-of-concept for using 3-D-printed materials to prevent multipactor.