Magnetic Priming of a Relativistic Magnetron by Ferromagnetic Wires in the Anode and Cathode*

Abstract

Magnetic priming consists of N/2 azimuthal perturbations applied to the axial magnetic field in an N-cavity magnetron. When employed on the UM/L-3-Titan, 6-cavity, relativistic magnetron (L-band, -300 kV, ~3 kGauss), magnetic priming has shown enhanced performance over uniform-B- field operation. Magnetic perturbations are imposed utilizing Mu-metal wires embedded in either the cathode or both the cathode and anode of the magnetron.