Novel K-band reflex klystrons with high degree of frequency-temperature stability

Abstract

The advent of parametric amplifiers has resulted in the evolution of a new breed of reflex klystron oscillators. To be discussed in this paper are two types of reflex klystron oscillators which are undergoing concurrent development. The parametric amplifiers for which the reflex oscillators are being developed have signal frequencies in C- or X-band. For parametric amplification to function a pump frequency must be supplied which is nearly an integral harmonic of the signal frequency. For instance, since X-band is from 8.2 to 12.4 Gc, the second harmonics are 16.4 to 24.8 Gc. Thus the tubes to be described are advanced state-of-the-art reflex klystron oscillators, in both K- and Ku- band, that represent a factor of ten improvement in frequency-temperature stability over other previously reported current-state-of-the-art reflex tubes.