MAGNETRON

amarjith@cochincet.ac.in

Invention of Magnetron
Limitations of Ordinary Gridded Tubes
-Skin Effect
-Transit Angle Effect
Need of High-power microwaves

Cavity Magnetron
INTRODUCTION
Magnetron is a cross field device as the electric field
between the anode and the cathode is radial whereas
the magnetic field produced by a permanent magnet is
axial.
A high DC potential can be applied between the
cathode and anode which produces the radial electric
field.
Depending on the relative strengths of the electric and
magnetic fields, the electrons emitted from the
cathode and moving towards the anode will traverse
through the interaction space.

Effect of electric field

Effect of magnetic field

Effect of Crossed-Fields

CONSTRUCTION
As shown in the figure, a cavity magnetrons consist
of a hot filament (cathode) kept at a high negative
potential by a high-voltage, direct-current power
supply. The cathode is built into the center of an
evacuated, lobed, circular chamber.
A magnetic field parallel to the filament is imposed
by a electro-magnet. The magnetic field causes the
electrons, attracted to the (relatively) positive outer
part of the chamber, to spiral outward in a circular
path rather than moving directly to this anode.

OPERATION
To understand the operation of cavity magnetron, we must
first look at how the electrons behave in the presence of a
closed electric and magnetic fields.
This are explained in phase one and two.
PHASE 1
In the absence of magnetic field (B = 0), the electron travel
straight from the cathode to the anode due to the radial
electric field force acting on it.

Phase 2
If the magnetic field strength is increased slightly, due to
lateral force the electron path bends.
If the strength of the magnetic field is made sufficiently
high then the electrons can be prevented from reaching
the anode.
The magnetic field required to return electrons back to the
cathode just grazing the surface of the anode is called the
critical magnetic field (Bc) or the cut off magnetic field.
If the magnetic field is larger than the critical field (B >
Bc), the electron experiences a greater rotational force and
may return back to the cathode quite faster.

The electron path under the influence of

different strength of the magnetic field
Magnetic field equal to zero
Slightly increased magnetic
field
Cathode
-ve

Critical magnetic field

Excessive magnetic field

Interaction Space
Anode blocks +ve

All the above explanation is for a static case

in the absence of the RF field in the cavity of
magnetron.