An analogue of the electron interaction in a distributed emission type crossed-field amplifier

This paper describes a method of using a magnetron as an analogue computer to quantitatively simulate the electron interaction in a distributed emission type crossed-field amplifier (CFA) along its interaction space. Quantities which can be evaluated include the rate of power gain, the electronic efficiency, the electron dissipation density on the anode, and the cathode-anode current per space harmonic wavelength, λs. This analogue magnetron may be a standard tube modified to have a particular cathode diameter, and operating with specified values of pulse anode voltage, magnetic field, QL, and other applied parameters. Readings of magnetron power output, pulse anode current, electron dissipation on the anode, etc. are translatable to corresponding quantities per λsalong the CFA by using appropriate relationships.