Space TWT Cathode Manufacturing at L-3 Communications ETI

L-3 Communications ETI (formerly Boeing Electron Dynamics Division and, prior to that a division of Hughes Space and Communications) has been involved in the manufacture of vacuum electron devices (VEDs) for over 50 years. Recognizing the critical role of the cathode in the quality, reliability and lifetime of the VED, L-3 ETI has invested significant time and resources in establishing in-house facilities for the research, development, manufacture, and test of the Space TWT cathode. Six years ago a new cathode production facility was brought on line at L-3 ETI and initial test and production data were reported at IVEC 2001 presented in D. S. Komm and R. T. Longo (2001). More than 1000 M-type dispenser cathodes have been manufactured in this facility and installed into Space TWTs. Over this period, there has not been a single occurrence of a TWT failure for which the cathode has been identified as the source. In this paper we report on the status of the cathode facility, quality control efforts and results from TWT test data. These data show that the quality, reliability and performance of the cathodes produced in this facility have been stable and consistent over the past 6 years