Metamaterial-Like Cathodes in Multicavity Magnetrons

This paper presents the results of computer simulations performed for exploring and developing new methods, which may allow enhancing operational parameters of multicavity magnetrons through using the metal-thin-wire (MTW) and the metal-split-ring metamaterial-like structures as cold (nonthermionic) cathodes. It is demonstrated by the particle-in-cell simulations of a generic ten-vane nonrelativistic ultrahigh-frequency-band heavily strapped magnetron that the output microwave power and the start-up time of this magnetron are significantly improved by replacing either a solid or a transparent cold cathode by, for example, a bulk MTW metamaterial-like structure formed as an array of individual wires directed parallel to the axis of the magnetron (rodded cathode).