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NON-THERMIONIC CATHODE FOR HIGH POWER, LONG PULSE, LONG LIFETIME MAGNETRONS

Award Information

Agency:
Department of Defense 		Branch:
Air Force 		Award ID:
90211 		Program Year/Program:
2009 / STTR
Agency Tracking Number:
F08B-T14-0140 		Solicitation Year:
N/A 		Solicitation Topic Code:
N/A 		Solicitation Number:
N/A
Small Business Information
collins clark technologies inc.
1504 Georgene Dr. N.E. Albuquerque, NM 87112
View profile »
Woman-Owned: No
Minority-Owned: No
HUBZone-Owned: No
 
Phase 1
Fiscal Year: 2009
Title: NON-THERMIONIC CATHODE FOR HIGH POWER, LONG PULSE, LONG LIFETIME MAGNETRONS
Agency / Branch: DOD / USAF
Contract: FA9550-09-C-0127
Award Amount: $100,000.00
 

Abstract:

In conventional microwave tubes, electrons are supplied by tunneling from specially prepared cathodes that are heated to high temperatures (>1000C), Total current (and tube power) is limited by cathode temperature with higher power possible only with higher temperatures or more exotic cathode materials. Operating at these temperatures results in reduced cathode lifetime and fragile tubes. Since the cathodes must be heated continuously even in low duty cycle pulsed operation, large support power systems and cooling are required. Our goal is to develop a cathode structure which operates at ambient temperature, a cold cathode, in which the electrons are produced by field emission from unheated micro-fibers covering the cathode surface. If the tips of these fibers are sharpened, the field is considerably higher than the average and large electron emission results. Careful fiber construction along with conditioning and specialized coatings reduces or eliminates outgassing and plasma formation. The electron emission is controlled by a voltage between the cathode and a transparent grid so that R.F. can be gated without the need for and external modulator. This approach will result in microwave tubes of higher power, longer lifetime, greater ruggedness and reduced complexity than conventional systems. BENEFIT: Success in this effort will result in significant power generation capability in conventional and high power microwave tubes. Substantial savings in weight and complexity accompanied by lifetime enhancement will be accomplished by elimination of conventional heated cathode technology.)

Principal Investigator:

Miles Collins Clark
President/Senior Scientis
5052637036
collins-clark-technologies@comcast.net

Business Contact:

Miles Collins Clark
President/Senior Scientis
5052637036
collins-clark-technologies@comcast.net
Small Business Information at Submission:

collins clark technologies inc.
1504 Georgene Dr. N.E. Albuquerque, NM 87112

EIN/Tax ID: 202514544
DUNS: N/A
Number of Employees:
Woman-Owned: No
Minority-Owned: No
HUBZone-Owned: No
Research Institution Information:
UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO
1 University of New Mexico
MSC01 1100
Albuquerque, NM 87131
Contact: Edl Schamiloglu
Contact Phone: (505) 277-2436
RI Type: Nonprofit college or university