RESEARCH LEADING TO A SECOND GENERATION LCX TRAVELING WAVE TUBE

THE OBJECTIVE OF THIS PROJECT IS TO DEMONSTRATE AND VALIDATE DESIGNS AND FABRICATION TECHNIQUES WHICH WILL LEAD TO A SECOND GENERATION IJ BAND PULSED LCX (LOW COST EXPENDABLE) TWT WHICH CAN BE MADE TO SELL FOR UNDER $2500. LOW COST FEATURES INCLUDE AN OXIDE CATHODE IN A GUN WHICH IS BASED ON A CRT TYPE OF MECHANICAL DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION, USING CRT PARTS; LONG PERIOD FOCUSING, WHICH REDUCES FOCUSING CIRCUIT PART COUNT BY A FACTOR OF 3 OR MORE, AND A NEW SIMPLIFIED APPROACH TO ACHIEVING A TIGHT FIT BETWEEN THE BARREL AND CIRCUIT BUNDLE. ALSO TO BE INVESTIGATED ARE LOW COST SPUTTER COATINGS FOR CIRCUIT ATTENUATION AND LOW COST FABRICATION FOR PRODUCING THE DISPERSION SHAPING RAILS USED IN THE FIRST GENERATION LCX.