MODULE-II

Reflex Klystron Oscillators:

• Derivation of Power output and Efficiency
• Admittance
Magnetron oscillators:
• Cylindrical magnetron
• Cyclotron Angular frequency
• Power output and Efficiency.
 REFLEX KLYSTRON OSCILLATORS
• The reflex klystron has been the most used source of microwave power in laboratory
applications.
• It is a single cavity, variable frequency microwave generator of low power and low
efficiency.
Construction:
• A reflex klystron consists of
(i) Electron Gun
(ii) Anode Cavity
(iii) Repeller/Reflector Electrode

Constructional Details of Reflex Klystron

• In this klystron, a single pair of grids does the functions of both the buncher and the
catcher grids.
• The main difference between two cavity reflex klystron amplifier and reflex klystron is
that the output cavity is omitted in reflex klystron and the repeller or reflector electrode is
placed at a very short distance from the single cavity which replaces the collector
electrode.
Operation:
• The oscillations are set up in the tube initially due to noise generated by the application of
dc voltage.
• These oscillations can be sustained by operating the device.
• The electron gun emits electron beam which are focused into a narrow beam by focusing
electrodes.
• This narrow electron beam is accelerated forward by the grids of the anode cavity which
is kept at positive potential.
• The electrons pass through the gap in the cavity and undergo velocity modulation.
• After passing through the gap in the cavity, beam travels towards a repeller electrode
which is at a high negative potential VR
• The beam is repelled back by a repeller plate kept at a negative potential and returned
back towards the gap.
• As a result of these actions, the electron bunching takes place and the electron bunches
transfers more energy to the gap and the oscillations are sustained.
• The single cavity acts as a buncher for the forward moving electron and as a catcher for
the returning beam.
Applegate Diagram:
• The distance-time plot known as applegate diagram depicts the process taking place in
repeller space.
• By applying beam voltage V0, the electron beam is accelerated towards the anode cavity
with velocity υ0.
• The RF voltage that is produced across the gap by the cavity oscillations act on the
electron beam to cause velocity modulation.
• eR is the reference electron that passes through the gap when the gap voltage is “0”.It is
unaffected by the gap voltage and crosses the anode cavity with velocity υ0 . it penetrates
into the repeller space and repelled back by the Repeller electrode having negative
potential, with the same velocity υ0.
• The early electron ee that passes through the gap before reference electron eR experiences
a maximum positive voltage across the gap .It moves with maximum velocity υ max and
penetrates deep into the repeller space and repelled back by the Repeller electrode. The
return time for early electron is greater as the depth of penetration into repeller space is
more.
• The late electron el, that passes the gap later than eR experiences a maximum negative
voltage across the gap .It moves with minimum velocity υmin and penetrates less into the
repeller space and repelled back by the Repeller electrode. The return time for late
electron is less as the depth of penetration into repeller space is less.
• The late electron el, early electron ee and reference electron eR reaches the gap at the same
instant and form an electron bunch.
• Bunches occur once per cycle centered around the reference electron eR and these
bunches transfer maximum energy to the gap to get sustained oscillations.
• The anode cavity spends energy in accelerating the electrons and gains energy during the
return journey of electrons to the cavity gap. The best possible time for electrons to return
to the cavity gap is when the gap voltage is positive maximum (900 point of sine wave).
• For oscillations to be sustained, the time taken by the electrons to travel into the repeller
space and back to the cavity gap, known as transit time (T) must have an optimum
value.
 • The optimum transit time is given by

n=0, 1, 2, 3………

• This transit time depends upon the Repeller and anode voltages.

Voltage characteristics of Reflex Klystron:

• Oscillations can be obtained only for specific combinations of anode and repeller
3
voltages that give favorable transit time, T= n+4.

• Each value of n=0, 1, 2, 3… is said to correspond to a different mode for reflex klystron
3 3 3
oscillator. {4 , 1 4 , 2 4 , … … }

• The earlier the mode, the larger the output power. But it can be obtained at maximum
value of repeller voltage, leading to insulation problems and possibilities of lower
efficiency. So mode corresponding to n=2 or n=3 are most widely used.
Klystron Mode Curves
• The output power and frequency can be electronically controlled by varying the repeller
voltage (VR).This is known as electronic tuning of reflex klystron.
• Therefore the reflex klystron can be used as a voltage tuned oscillator or frequency
modulated oscillator.
• The nature of variation of output power and frequency with repeller voltage for different
modes are known as mode curves of reflex klystron. This is shown below.
• Each mode has a centre frequency determined by the physical size of the cavity.
• The output power increases as the repeller voltage is made more negative. This result in
decrease in the transit time of the electron bunches.
• In higher modes the lower concentration of electrons in the returning bunch delivers less
power to the oscillating cavity which inturn reduces the amplitude of the cavity
oscillations and causes a decrease in output power.
• Electronic tuning doesn’t changes the centre frequency of the cavity, but varies the
frequency within the mode of operation.
DERIVATION OF POWER OUTPUT AND EFFICIENCY OF REFLEX KLYSTRON
OSCILLATOR
ADMITTANCE OF REFLEX KLYSTRON OSCILLATOR
PERFORMANCE CHARACTERISTICS
Frequency range: 4 to 200GHz
Output Power: 1 mW to 2.5 mW
Efficiency: 10 to 20%
Theoretical Efficiency: 22.78%
Tuning Range: 5 GHz at 2 Watts to 30 GHz at 10 mW

APPLICATIONS
(i) Used in radar Receivers
(ii) Local Oscillator in Microwave receivers
(iii) Signal Source in Microwave generator of variable frequency
(iv) Portable microwave Links
(v) Pump Oscillator in Parametric Amplifier.