Klystron 1

Klystron

High-power klystron used for spacecraftcommunication at the Canberra Deep Space

Communications Complex.

Low-power Russian reflex klystron from 1963. The cavity resonator fromwhich the output is taken, is attached to the electrodes labeled Externer

Resonator.

A klystron is a specialized linear-beam vacuumtube, invented in 1937 by American electricalengineers Russel and Sigurd Varian, which is usedas an amplifier for high frequencies, from UHFradio frequencies up into the microwave range.Low-power klystrons are used as local oscillatorsin superheterodyne radar receivers, whilehigh-power klystrons are used as output tubes inUHF television transmitters, microwave relay,satellite communication, and radar transmitters,and to generate the drive power for modern particleaccelerators.

Klystron amplifiers have the advantage (over themagnetron) of coherently amplifying a referencesignal so its output may be precisely controlled inamplitude, frequency and phase. Many klystronsuse waveguides for coupling microwave energyinto and out of the device, although it is also quitecommon for lower power and lower frequencyklystrons to use coaxial cable couplings instead. Insome cases a coupling probe is used to couple themicrowave energy from a klystron into a separateexternal waveguide.

All modern klystrons are amplifiers, since reflexklystrons, which were used as oscillators in thepast, have been surpassed by alternativetechnologies.The name klystron comes from the stem formκλυσ- (klys) of a Greek verb referring to the actionof waves breaking against a shore, and the end ofthe word electron.

History

The brothers Russell and Sigurd Varian ofStanford University are the inventors of theklystron. Their prototype was completed in August1937. Upon publication in 1939,[1] news of the klystron immediately influenced the work of US and UK researchersworking on radar equipment. The Varians went on to found Varian Associates to commercialize the technology (forexample, to make small linear accelerators to generate photons for external beam radiation therapy). Their work builton the description of velocity modulation by A. Arsenjewa-Heil and Oskar Heil (wife and husband) in 1935, thoughthe Varians were probably unaware of the Heils' work.[]

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The work of physicist W.W. Hansen was instrumental in the development of the klystron and was cited by theVarian brothers in their 1939 paper. His resonator analysis, which dealt with the problem of accelerating electronstoward a target, could be used just as well to decelerate electrons (i.e., transfer their kinetic energy to RF energy in aresonator). During the second World War, Hansen lectured at the MIT Radiation labs two days a week, commutingto Boston from Sperry gyroscope company on Long Island. His resonator was called a "rhumbatron" by the Varianbrothers. Hansen died of beryllium disease in 1949 as a result of exposure to beryllium oxide (BeO).During the Second World War, the Axis powers relied mostly on (then low-powered and long wavelength) klystrontechnology for their radar system microwave generation, while the Allies used the far more powerful butfrequency-drifting technology of the Cavity magnetron for much shorter one centimeter microwave generation.Klystron tube technologies for very high-power applications, such as synchrotrons and radar systems, have sincebeen developed.Right after WW II AT&T used 4 watt klystrons in its brand new network of microwave links that covered the UScontinent. The network provided long distance telephone service and also carried television signals for the major TVnetworks. Western Union Telegraph Company also built point-to-point microwave communication links usingintermediate repeater stations at about 40 mile intervals at that time, using 2K25 reflex klystrons in both thetransmitters and receivers.

How it worksKlystrons amplify RF signals by converting the kinetic energy in a DC electron beam into radio frequency power. Abeam of electrons is produced by a thermionic cathode (a heated pellet of low work function material), andaccelerated by high-voltage electrodes (typically in the tens of kilovolts). This beam is then passed through an inputcavity resonator. RF energy is fed into the input cavity at, or near, its resonant frequency to produce a voltage whichacts on the electron beam. The electric field causes the electrons to bunch: electrons that pass through during anopposing electric field are accelerated and later electrons are slowed, causing the previously continuous electronbeam to form bunches at the input frequency. To reinforce the bunching, a klystron may contain additional"buncher" cavities. The RF current carried by the beam will produce an RF magnetic field, and this will in turnexcite a voltage across the gap of subsequent resonant cavities. In the output cavity, the developed RF energy iscoupled out. The spent electron beam, with reduced energy, is captured in a collector.To make an oscillator, the output cavity can be coupled to the input cavity(s) with a coaxial cable or waveguide.Positive feedback excites spontaneous oscillations at the resonant frequency of the cavities.

Two-cavity klystron amplifier

In the two-chamber klystron, the electron beam is injected into aresonant cavity. The electron beam, accelerated by a positive potential,is constrained to travel through a cylindrical drift tube in a straight pathby an axial magnetic field. While passing through the first cavity, theelectron beam is velocity modulated by the weak RF signal. In themoving frame of the electron beam, the velocity modulation isequivalent to a plasma oscillation. Plasma oscillations are rapidoscillations of the electron density in conducting media such as plasmas or metals.(The frequency only dependsweakly on the wavelength). So in a quarter of one period of the plasma frequency, the velocity modulation isconverted to density modulation, i.e. bunches of electrons. As the bunched electrons enter the second chamber theyinduce standing waves at the same frequency as the input signal. The signal induced in the second chamber is much

stronger than that in the first. When the tube is energized, the cathode emits electrons which are focused into a beam by a low positive voltage on the control grid. The beam is then accelerated by a very high positive dc potential that is

Klystron 3

applied in equal amplitude to both the accelerator grid and the buncher grids. The buncher grids are connected to acavity resonator that superimposes an ac potential on the dc voltage. Ac potentials are produced by oscillationswithin the cavity that begin spontaneously when the tube is energized. The initial oscillations are caused by randomfields and circuit imbalances that are present when the circuit is energized. The oscillations within the cavity producean oscillating electrostatic field between the buncher grids that is at the same frequency as the natural frequency ofthe cavity. The direction of the field changes with the frequency of the cavity. These changes alternately accelerateand decelerate the electrons of the beam passing through the grids. The area beyond the buncher grids is called theDRIFT SPACE. The electrons form bunches in this area when the accelerated electrons overtake the deceleratedelectrons.The function of the CATCHER GRIDS is to absorb energy from the electron beam. The catcher grids are placedalong the beam at a point where the bunches are fully formed. The location is determined by the transit time of thebunches at the natural resonant frequency of the cavities (the resonant frequency of the catcher cavity is the same asthe buncher cavity). The location is chosen because maximum energy transfer to the output (catcher) cavity occurswhen the electrostatic field is of the correct polarity to slow down the electron bunches. The feedback path providesenergy of the proper delay and phase relationship to sustain oscillations. A signal applied at the buncher grids will beamplified if the feedback path is removed.

Two-cavity klystron oscillatorThe two-cavity amplifier klystron is readily turned into an oscillator klystron by providing a feedback loop betweenthe input and output cavities. Two-cavity oscillator klystrons have the advantage of being among the lowest-noisemicrowave sources available, and for that reason have often been used in the illuminator systems of missile targetingradars. The two-cavity oscillator klystron normally generates more power than the reflex klystron—typically watts ofoutput rather than milliwatts. Since there is no reflector, only one high-voltage supply is necessary to cause the tubeto oscillate, the voltage must be adjusted to a particular value. This is because the electron beam must produce thebunched electrons in the second cavity in order to generate output power. Voltage must be adjusted to vary thevelocity of the electron beam (and thus the frequency) to a suitable level due to the fixed physical separation betweenthe two cavities. Often several "modes" of oscillation can be observed in a given klystron.

Reflex klystron

In the reflex klystron (also known as a 'Sutton' klystron after itsinventor, Robert Sutton), the electron beam passes through a singleresonant cavity. The electrons are fired into one end of the tube by anelectron gun. After passing through the resonant cavity they arereflected by a negatively charged reflector electrode for another passthrough the cavity, where they are then collected. The electron beam isvelocity modulated when it first passes through the cavity. Theformation of electron bunches takes place in the drift space betweenthe reflector and the cavity. The voltage on the reflector must beadjusted so that the bunching is at a maximum as the electron beamre-enters the resonant cavity, thus ensuring a maximum of energy istransferred from the electron beam to the RF oscillations in the cavity. The voltage should always be switched onbefore providing the input to the reflex klystron as the whole function of the reflex klystron would be destroyed ifthe supply is provided after the input. The reflector

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cutaway: reflex klystron[2]

voltage may be varied slightly from the optimum value, which resultsin some loss of output power, but also in a variation in frequency. Thiseffect is used to good advantage for automatic frequency control inreceivers, and in frequency modulation for transmitters. The level ofmodulation applied for transmission is small enough that the poweroutput essentially remains constant. At regions far from the optimumvoltage, no oscillations are obtained at all. This tube is called a reflexklystron because it repels the input supply or performs the oppositefunction of a klystron.

There are often several regions of reflector voltage where the reflexklystron will oscillate; these are referred to as modes. The electronictuning range of the reflex klystron is usually referred to as the variationin frequency between half power points—the points in the oscillatingmode where the power output is half the maximum output in the mode.The frequency of oscillation is dependent on the reflector voltage, and

varying this provides a crude method of frequency modulating the oscillation frequency, albeit with accompanyingamplitude modulation as well.

Modern semiconductor technology has effectively replaced the reflex klystron in most applications.

Klystron 5

Multicavity klystron

Large klystrons as used in thestorage ring of the AustralianSynchrotron to maintain theenergy of the electron beam

In all modern klystrons, the number of cavities exceeds two. A larger number ofcavities may be used to increase the gain of the klystron, or to increase the bandwidth.

Tuning a klystron

Some klystrons have cavities that are tunable. Tuning a klystron is delicate workwhich, if not done properly, can cause damage to equipment or injury to the technician.By adjusting the frequency of individual cavities, the technician can change theoperating frequency, gain, output power, or bandwidth of the amplifier. The technicianmust be careful not to exceed the limits of the graduations, or damage to the klystroncan result.Manufacturers generally send a card with the unique calibrations for a klystron'sperformance characteristics, that lists the graduations to be set to attain any of a set oflisted frequencies. No two klystrons are exactly identical (even when comparing likepart/model number klystrons), and so every card is specific to the individual unit.Klystrons have serial numbers on each of them to uniquely identify each unit, and forwhich manufacturers may (hopefully) have the performance characteristics in adatabase. If not, loss of the calibration card may be an economically insoluble problem,making the klystron unusable or perform marginally un-tuned.Other precautions taken when tuning a klystron include using nonferrous tools. Someklystrons employ permanent magnets. If a technician uses ferrous tools, (which areferromagnetic), and comes too close to the intense magnetic fields that contain theelectron beam, such a tool can be pulled into the unit by the intense magnetic force,smashing fingers, injuring the technician, or damaging the unit. Special lightweightnonmagnetic (aka diamagnetic) tools made of beryllium alloy have been used fortuning U.S. Air Force klystrons.

Precautions are routinely taken when transporting klystron devices in aircraft, as the intense magnetic field caninterfere with magnetic navigation equipment. Special overpacks are designed to help limit this field "in the field,"and thus allow such devices to be transported safely.

Optical klystronIn an optical klystron the cavities are replaced with undulators. Very high voltages are needed. The electron gun, thedrift tube and the collector are still used.

Floating drift tube klystronThe floating drift tube klystron has a single cylindrical chamber containing an electrically isolated central tube.Electrically, this is similar to the two cavity oscillator klystron with a lot of feedback between the two cavities.Electrons exiting the source cavity are velocity modulated by the electric field as they travel through the drift tubeand emerge at the destination chamber in bunches, delivering power to the oscillation in the cavity. This type ofoscillator klystron has an advantage over the two-cavity klystron on which it is based. It only needs one tuningelement to effect changes in frequency. The drift tube is electrically insulated from the cavity walls, and DC bias isapplied separately. The DC bias on the drift tube may be adjusted to alter the transit time through it, thus allowingsome electronic tuning of the oscillating frequency. The amount of tuning in this manner is not large and is normallyused for frequency modulation when transmitting.

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CollectorAfter the RF energy has been extracted from the electron beam, the beam is destroyed in a collector. Some klystronsinclude depressed collectors, which recover energy from the beam before collecting the electrons, increasingefficiency. Multistage depressed collectors enhance the energy recovery by "sorting" the electrons in energy bins.

ApplicationsKlystrons can produce far higher microwave power outputs than solid state microwave devices such as Gunn diodes.In modern systems, they are used from UHF (hundreds of MHz) up through hundreds of gigahertz (as in theExtended Interaction Klystrons in the CloudSat satellite). Klystrons can be found at work in radar, satellite andwideband high-power communication (very common in television broadcasting and EHF satellite terminals),medicine (radiation oncology), and high-energy physics (particle accelerators and experimental reactors). At SLAC,for example, klystrons are routinely employed which have outputs in the range of 50 megawatts (pulse) and 50kilowatts (time-averaged) at 2856MHz.Popular Science's "Best of What's New 2007"[3][4] described a company, Global Resource Corporation, currentlydefunct, using a klystron to convert the hydrocarbons in everyday materials, automotive waste, coal, oil shale, andoil sands into natural gas and diesel fuel.[5]

References[2] http:/ / www. radiomuseum. org/ tubes/ tube_v-260. html[5] US Patent 7629497 - Microwave-based recovery of hydrocarbons and fossil fuels (http:/ / www. patentstorm. us/ patents/ 7629497. html)

Issued on December 8, 2009

External links• Animation of how a Klystron works (http:/ / www2. slac. stanford. edu/ vvc/ accelerators/ klystron. html)• (Two cavity klystron) (http:/ / www. tpub. com/ neets/ book11/ 45b. htm)• (Multicavity klystron) (http:/ / www. tpub. com/ neets/ book11/ 45c. htm)• (Reflex klystron) (http:/ / www. tpub. com/ neets/ book11/ 45d. htm)• (High power for linear accelerator) (http:/ / www2. slac. stanford. edu/ vvc/ accelerators/ klystron. html)• History of the Klystron from Varian (http:/ / www. varianinc. com/ cgi-bin/ nav?corp/ history/ klystron&

cid=KJLJIMJQFN)• Stanford Linear Accelerator Center (249) Klyston Gallery Pictures (http:/ / www2. slac. stanford. edu/ vvc/

accelerators/ gallery/ gallery. html)• Klystron collection in the Virtual Valve Museum (http:/ / www. tubecollector. org/ list. php?L=-K& M=Y&

H=Klystrons)• Klystron Amplifier (http:/ / www. radartutorial. eu/ 08. transmitters/ tx12. en. html)• "Microwave Gun" (http:/ / www. osti. gov/ energycitations/ servlets/ purl/ 6183102-lNcpBQ/ 6183102. PDF)

klystron developed at the SLAC

Article Sources and Contributors 7

Article Sources and ContributorsKlystron  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=547528078  Contributors: AdjustShift, Ahunt, Appletree1, ArnoldReinhold, AxelBoldt, BR84, Bemoeial, BorgHunter, CharlyWhisky, Chayanman, Chetvorno, Churn and change, Crusty007, Cwkmail, Dave1g, Deglr6328, DeltaQuad, Dlaroscain, DocKrin, Dont think twice, Dreadstar, Dspark76, Dysprosia, E2eamon,Ehn, Enochlau, Eog1916, Erbade, Fosnez, Fram, Frank Geerlings, Gah4, Georgecmu, Gerardbis, Gogo Dodo, Headbomb, Hofoen, HuntingTarg, Itmaybeokay, J.delanoy, Jeff G., Jivecat, Jjron,Jlin, Kaini, Kingturtle, Kmarinas86, Lbeaumont, Leonard G., Lumberjake, Materialscientist, Mayur.leo247, Mbinebri, Meanhe2024, Michael Hardy, MikeyNolan, Mikhail Ryazanov, Miterdale,Montanabw, Mwarren us, Nedim Ardoğa, Nimur, PandeyShailesh, Prunesqualer, Qrsdogg, RainbowCrane, Rayshade, Rclocher3, RichardMills65, Rifleman 82, Rjwilmsi, Rogerbrent, Sbharris,ScAvenger lv, Seaphoto, Searchme, Soliloquial, Spydergwiz, Stevertigo, Stormshadow07, Stratocracy, Timwi, Topbanana, Tosta, Tubular, Tulasikrishna6, Ulfbastel, Vanessaezekowitz, Wa3pxx,Westonne, Wtshymanski, 111 anonymous edits

Image Sources, Licenses and ContributorsImage:Klystron.jpg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Klystron.jpg  License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported  Contributors: Enoch Lau. As acourtesy, please let me know if you alter this image or this image description page.Image:ExKlystron.jpg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:ExKlystron.jpg  License: GNU Free Documentation License  Contributors: Ulfbastel at de.wikipediaImage:Klystron.enp.gif  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Klystron.enp.gif  License: GNU Free Documentation License  Contributors: 121a0012, Charly WhiskyImage:Reflex.sch.enp.svg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Reflex.sch.enp.svg  License: GNU Free Documentation License  Contributors: Pieter Kuiper,VanessaezekowitzImage:Varian V-260 model.jpg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Varian_V-260_model.jpg  License: Creative Commons Attribution-Sharealike 3.0  Contributors: ErbadeImage:Aust.-Synchrotron,-Klystron-for-Storage-Ring,-14.06.2007.jpg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Aust.-Synchrotron,-Klystron-for-Storage-Ring,-14.06.2007.jpg License: GNU Free Documentation License  Contributors: jjron

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