A system and method of operating a magnetron power source can achieve a broad range of output power control by operating a magnetron with its cathode voltage lower than that needed for free running oscillations (e.g., below the Kapitsa critical voltage or equivalently below the Hartree voltage) A sufficiently strong injection-locking signal enables the output power to be coherently generated and to be controlled over a broad power range by small changes in the cathode voltage. In one embodiment, the present system and method is used for a practical, single, frequency-locked 2-magnetron system design.

A system and method of operating a magnetron power source can achieve a broad range of output power control by operating a magnetron with its cathode voltage lower than that needed for free running oscillations (e.g., below the Kapitsa critical voltage or equivalently below the Hartree voltage) A sufficiently strong injection-locking signal enables the output power to be coherently generated and to be controlled over a broad power range by small changes in the cathode voltage. In one embodiment, the present system and method is used for a practical, single, frequency-locked 2-magnetron system design.

A magnetically insulated line oscillator (MILO) that is a high power microwave (HPM) source. A cross field device with a plurality of azimuthally extending spaced apart slats.

A magnetically insulated line oscillator (MILO) that is a high power microwave (HPM) source. A cross field device with a plurality of azimuthally extending spaced apart slats.

A system and method for generating a plurality of short RF pulses. The system and method comprises a first circuit comprising a first power supply and a plurality of first networks for generating a first output signal in a form of a high voltage pedestal pulse supplied to a common node, and a second circuit comprising a second power supply and a plurality of second networks for generating a second output signal in a form of a high voltage short pulse which is supplied to the common node. The pedestal pulse passes through a blocking inductor before being combined with the short pulse at the common node, and the short pulse is stacked on top of the pedestal pulse to form a combined high voltage pulse. A low frequency magnetron is coupled to the common node for receiving the stacked combined high voltage pulse and generating a short RF pulse.

A system and method for generating a plurality of short RF pulses. The system and method comprises a first circuit comprising a first power supply and a plurality of first networks for generating a first output signal in a form of a high voltage pedestal pulse supplied to a common node, and a second circuit comprising a second power supply and a plurality of second networks for generating a second output signal in a form of a high voltage short pulse which is supplied to the common node. The pedestal pulse passes through a blocking inductor before being combined with the short pulse at the common node, and the short pulse is stacked on top of the pedestal pulse to form a combined high voltage pulse. A low frequency magnetron is coupled to the common node for receiving the stacked combined high voltage pulse and generating a short RF pulse.

The present invention relates to a modulator system adapted to generate high voltage pulses suitable for supply across a high voltage load having a thermionic cathode, such as a magnetron. The modulator system comprises a high voltage DC PSU connected to a switching mechanism adapted to generate high voltage pulses from the high voltage DC PSU for application to a thermionic cathode of a high voltage load. The modulator system further comprises an isolation transformer; a heater PSU adapted to be connected to a cathode heater through the isolation transformer and to provide an AC current thereto. The modulator system further comprises a controller to receive pulse instruction signals and trigger generation of corresponding high voltage pulses by the switching mechanism, to calculate the estimated arrival time of a next pulse instruction signal, based on the time between previous pulse instruction signals, and disable the heater PSU for a preset time, commencing before the estimated arrival time of the next pulse instruction signal, such that no current is supplied from the heater PSU while current is supplied from the high voltage PSU.

The present invention relates to a modulator system adapted to generate high voltage pulses suitable for supply across a high voltage load having a thermionic cathode, such as a magnetron. The modulator system comprises a high voltage DC PSU connected to a switching mechanism adapted to generate high voltage pulses from the high voltage DC PSU for application to a thermionic cathode of a high voltage load. The modulator system further comprises an isolation transformer; a heater PSU adapted to be connected to a cathode heater through the isolation transformer and to provide an AC current thereto. The modulator system further comprises a controller to receive pulse instruction signals and trigger generation of corresponding high voltage pulses by the switching mechanism, to calculate the estimated arrival time of a next pulse instruction signal, based on the time between previous pulse instruction signals, and disable the heater PSU for a preset time, commencing before the estimated arrival time of the next pulse instruction signal, such that no current is supplied from the heater PSU while current is supplied from the high voltage PSU.

A system and method of operating a magnetron power source can achieve a broad range of output power control by operating a magnetron with its cathode voltage lower than that needed for free running oscillations (e.g., below the Kapitsa critical voltage or equivalently below the Hartree voltage) A sufficiently strong injection-locking signal enables the output power to be coherently generated and to be controlled over a broad power range by small changes in the cathode voltage. In one embodiment, the present system and method is used for a practical, single, frequency-locked 2-magnetron system design.

A system and method of operating a magnetron power source can achieve a broad range of output power control by operating a magnetron with its cathode voltage lower than that needed for free running oscillations (e.g., below the Kapitsa critical voltage or equivalently below the Hartree voltage) A sufficiently strong injection-locking signal enables the output power to be coherently generated and to be controlled over a broad power range by small changes in the cathode voltage. In one embodiment, the present system and method is used for a practical, single, frequency-locked 2-magnetron system design.