Construction of Reflex Klystron

Definition: A Reflex Klystron is a specialized low-power vacuum tube used to
produce oscillations at microwave frequency. Its

principle of operation is velocity and current modulation.
Klystrons are basically specialized tubes used as amplifiers and oscillators at the microwave frequency range.
Construction of Reflex Klystron
The structure consists of a cathode and focusing anode that combinedly acts as an electron gun for the tube. The cathode emits the
electron beam which is focussed inside the tube by the focusing anode
 As it is a single cavity structure, thus single cavity act as buncher and catcher cavity separately. At the time of forward
movement of the electron beam, it acts as a buncher cavity. While at the time of backward movement, it is a catcher cavity.
A repeller plate that causes backward movement of the electron beam is present at the opposite end of the electron gun. The
potential at the repeller is made extremely negative in order to permit repulsion of like charges.
 Initially when the electron beam is emitted by the electron gun, then the early electrons, ee experience a very high potential.
Due to this, a strong electric field gets generated inside the cavity gap, leading to cause movement of electrons towards the
repeller with a very high velocity.
Due to high velocity, the electrons penetrate deeper into the region of the repeller and thus require greater time to repel back
towards the catcher cavity.
 But when the externally applied potential is almost 0, then the electron moves with a uniform velocity with which it was emitted
by the gun. These electrons are generally known as reference electrons er.
So, in this case, er will not penetrate deeply into the repeller surface and gets repelled by the repeller in a lesser time than the
early electron.
 Further, the electron that is emitted by the gun after the reference electron experiences a highly negative potential at the cavity.
This electron is generally known as late electron el and moves with a very low velocity inside the tube.
The penetration level of the late electron into the repeller space is least thus takes a minimal amount of time to get repelled
back.
It is to be noted that due to deep penetration in the repeller region, ee will take more time than er while returning towards the catcher.
This change in the velocity of moving electrons is known as velocity modulation. And due to this velocity modulation, all the
electrons get bunched while returning towards the catcher cavity.
So, in this way bunch of electrons reaches the catcher cavity. This bunching of electrons leads to cause, current modulation inside
the tube. Therefore, at the time of returning, the bunchedelectrons transfer the maximal of their
energy to the catcher cavity. Thereby leading to cause oscillations inside the tube.
 Transit Time: Transit time is defined as the time taken by the electrons to return to the cavity gap after getting repelled by the
repeller. For sustained oscillations to take place, transit time is the most important factor. Basically, the optimum time for
leaving the gun is centered around the reference electron, which is considered at a 180º phase difference from the sinusoidal
applied potential across the gap.
 Bunching Process: The figure below shows the process of bunching on the return journey of all the 3 categories of electrons
i.e., ee, er, and el:
Here the x-axis represents the time and the y-axis shows the distance traveled by the electrons inside the tube.
As we have already discussed that bunching takes place at the time of the return journey of electrons. Thus it is represented in the
figure that though ee, er and el, are approaching the repeller with different velocities, yet while returning all of them are bunched at a
respective time.
Specifications
1. The operating frequency range generally offered is 1 to 20 GHz.
2. It delivers output power in the range of 10mW to 2.5 W.
3. The tuning range of klystron lies between 5 GHz at 2W to 30 GHz at 10 mW.
4. Theoretically, the efficiency is considered 22.78% while practically the achieved efficiency is only 10 to 20%.
Applications
As reflex klystrons are oscillators thus find applications in local oscillators receivers, radar receivers, radio receivers. Also utilized as
signal sources in microwave generators and pump oscillators of parametric amplifiers.

Construction of Reflex Klystron

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Construction of Reflex Klystron

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Definition: A Reflex Klystron is a specialized low-power vacuum tube used to

produce oscillations at microwave frequency. Its

Construction of Reflex Klystron

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