Life Test Performance of Nanocarbon-Modified Metal-Porous Cathode in the Traveling Wave Tube

The results of experimental studies of the metal-porous cathode modified by carbon nanostructures Astralen® and Ugleron® are presented. Long-term reliability tests of space-based TWTs with such a cathode in forced mode showed that the proposed design and manufacturing technology of metal-porous cathodes can increase their operating time in the TWT without loss of emissivity up to 3.10⁶ hours. During the test, the difference between the operating and characteristic voltages the cathode decreased by 67% and did not reach a critical value, while the change in the value of the cathode current in the TWT did not exceed 5%.