Microwave Engineering Lab

oratory
ECE Department, NIT Kuruks
hetra
EXPERIMENT 2
REFLEX KLYSTRON CHARACTERISTICS

Objective: To study the repeller mode characteristics ofthe Reflex Klystron.

‫م‬

Apparatus Required: Klystron power supply, klystron tube with mount, frequency meter variable
ttenuator. detector moynt with probe connection, Oscilloscope.

Theory:

Reflex Klystron is one of the most commonly used microwave (low power) generators. It
converts D.C. power into microwave power.

Reflex klystron oscillators:

The Reflex Klystron makes use of velocity modulation and current modulation to transform a

continuous electron beam into microwave power. Electrons emitted from the cathode are accelerated
and passed through the cavity resonator. The electron velocity is either accelerated or retarded
depending on the instantaneous ac voltage across the resonator (velocity modulation). The electrons
that leave the resonator and travel towards reflector need different times to return due to change in

their velocities. As a result, returning electrons group together in bunches (current modulation).
uses only a single re-
The schematic diagram of a reflex klystron tube is shown in Fig. 2.1, which
beam emitted from the cathode K is accelerated
entrants microwave cavity as resonator. The electron
between the cavity anode
by the grid G and passes through the cavity anode A to the repeller space
and the repeller electrode.

6-

REFELLER O
REFLECTOR PLATE

GRIOS
GRIO GAP

RESONANT MAGNE TIC

CAVITY COUPLING
LOOP

ACCELERATING
GRIO

CATHODE

RESONATOR
POTENTIAL

Fig.2.1 Reflex klystron tabe

 Microwave Engine
ering Laboratory
ECE Department, NI
T Kurukshetra

Mechanism of oscillation
Due to de voltage in the cavity circuit,
RF noise is generated in the cavity. This elect
noise field in the cavity becomes pronounc romagnetic
ed at cavity resonant frequency. The
through the cavity gap d experience this RF electrons passing
field and are velocity modulated in the following
manner. The electrons as shown in Fig.2.1 which
encountered the positive half cycle of the RF field
in the gap d will be accelerated, those (reference electro
ns) b which encountered zero RF field will
pass with unchanged original velocity, and the
electrons e which encountered the negative half cycle
will be retarded on entering the repeller space
.GRID
CAVITY
ELECTRONS

VOLTAGF ACROSS
FROM

CAVITY GRIDS
DISTANCE
CCELFRATES

A AB
SECELERATES
ELECTRONS

SME

BUNCHES RETURN HERE BUNCHES RETURN HERE

FOR BEST OPERATION COR BEST OPERATION
IN FRST ODE IN SECOND MOD
3/4 CYCLE 1 3/4 CYCLES

Fig. 2.2 Bunching action of a reflex klystron

All these velocities modulated electrons will be repelled back to the cavity by the repeller due to its
negative potential. The repeller distance L and the voltages can be adjusted to receive all the velocity
modulated electrons at a same time on the positive peak of the cavity RF voltage cycle. Thus the
velocity modulated electrons are bunched together and lose their kinetic energy when they encounter
the positive cycle of the cavity RF field. This loss of energy is thus transferred to the cavity to
conserve the total power. If the power delivered by the bunched electrons to the cavity is greater than
the power loss in the cavity, the electromagnetic field amplitude at the resonant frequency of the
cavity will increase to produce microwave oscillations. The RF power is coupled to the output load
by means of a small loop which forms the center conductor of the coaxial line. When the power
delivered by the electrons becones equal to the total power loss in the cavity system, a steady
microwave oscillation is generated at resonant frequency of the cavity.

Mode of oscillation
The bunched electrons in retlex klystron can deliver maximum power to the cavity at any instant which
corresponds to the positive peak of the RF cycle of the cavity oscillation. If T is the time period at the
resonant frequency, to is the time taken by the reference clectron to travel in the repeller space
 Microwave Engi
neering Laboratory
ECE Department, NI
T Kurukshetra
between entering the repeller space at b and
the returning to the cavity positive peak voltage on
formatting of the bunch then at

1=(n+3/4) T = NT

where N = n +3/4, n= 0, 1, 2, 3,
Distance from
..., as shown in Fig.2.1
cavity gap

3/4 13
t
ia b :c
Cavity grid voltage

19-

Fig. 2.3 Reflector voltage and amplitude of square wave

thus by adjusting repeller voltage for given dimensions of reflex klystron, the bunching can be

made to occur at N= 113.23

4 4
22
4
etc.for modes n-0,1,2,3,...respectively. It is obvious that the

lowest order mode ½ occurs for a maximum value of repeller voltage when the transit time

Higher modes occur at lower repeller

to of the electrons in the repeller space is minimum.
electrons of
voltages. Since at the highest repeller voltage the acceleration of the bunched
is maximum.
return is maximum, the power output of the lowest mode

Modulation:

By varying the reflector voltage about a d.c. value,

Klystron can be frequency and amplitude
wave modulation with 100%
modulation index.
modulated simultaneously. For proper square in Fig. .3. If
r volt age and ampl itud e of the square wave should be set as shown
the refl ecto age, the total
e is Vm and V, is the reflector d.c. volt
the square wave peak to peak amplitud
reflector voltage will switch between (Vo
+Vm) and (Vo- Vm). We have to choose V, and Vh
mode center and (Vo-Vm) is the non-osci
llating region for proper
such that (V+Vm) is in the
square wave modulation.
 Microwave Engineering Lab
oratory
ECE Department, NIT Kur
uks hetra

Klvstron
power Multu
supply meter

Klystron Frequency Variable Detector VSWR

mount Isolator mount meter
meter attenuator
with tube

Oscilloscope

Fig. 2.4 Set up for reflex klystron

Components & Equipment Required:

S.No. Name of The Item Specifications Qty

Beam Voltage 240-400 V, 1
Klystron Power Supply
Repeller Supply 10-270 V
2
Klystron Tube
3 Isolator Min Isolation:20 dB: 1
Min Insertion Loss:0.4 dB
4 Frequency Meter 8.2 to 12.4 GHz

5 Variable Attenuator Average Power:2 W:

Max. Insertion L.oss:0.2 dB
Detector Mount IN23 1
6
7 Wave Guide Stands
VSWR Meter Π
8 Frequency:1 KHz; Range: 70
dB Minima in 10 dB Steps
9 Oscilloscope 30 MHz
BNC Cable 2
10

Procedure:

1. Carrier Wave Operation

as shown in the Fig 1.

1. Connect the components and equipment
maximum attenuation position.
2. Set the Variable Attenuator at the
voltage control knob to fully
3. Ser the Mod-Switch of Klystron Power Supply at CW position, beam
to fully clock wise andthe Meter Switch to
'OFF
anti clock wise and reflector voltage control knob

position.
fully.
4. Rotate the Knob of frequency meter to one side

meter with Detector.

5. Fiist connect the D.C micro-am
 Microwave Engincering Laboratory
ECE Department, NIT Kurukshetra
6. Switch on the Klystron Power Supply, VSWR Meter and Cooling tan.
7. Switch on beam voltage and rotate the knob slowly cloekwise up to 250 V. Observe beam current
value. "The Beam Current should be less than 30 mA"

8. Vary the reflector voltage slowly and watch ammeter. Set the voltage for maximum detlection in
the metr.

9. Tune the plunger of klystron.

10. Rotate the knob of frequeney meter slowly. At some particular position there will be a dip in miero-
ammeter. Note down the frequeney meter reading where output current is lowest. Read frequene
directly between two horizontal lines and vertical marker in case of direet reading type wave meter
frequency chart to find frequency from micrometer reading.
and use the
11. Change the reflector voltage and read the current and frequency for each reflector voltage.

II. Square Wave Operation

1. Conmeet the equipment and components as shown in the Fig 2.4.

2. Set Mierometer of variable attenuator at some position.

3. Set the range switeh of VSWR meter at 40 dB position, input selector switch to crystal impedance
position, meter switch to narrow position.
4 Set Mod-seleetor switch to AM-MOD position, beam voltage controł knob to fully
anticlockwise position.

5.
Switch ON the Klystron Power Supply, VSWR meter and cooling fan. Wait for few

minutes.

6. Switch 'ON' the Beam voltage switch and rotate

the beam voltage knob clockwise up to 300

V deflections in meter.

AM-FRE, knob the mid-position.

7. Keep the AM-MOD amplitude knob and
at

deflection in VSWR meter.

8. Rotate the reficctor voltage knob to get

amplitude knob to get the maximum output in VSWR meter.

9 Rotate the AM-MOD
y knob to get the maximum output in VSWR meter.
Maximize the deflection with frequenc
Vi

ction in VSWR
11. If'necessary, change the range switc
h of VSWR meter 30 dB or 50 dB if the defle
also be reduced
normal scale respectively. Further the outpu t can
meter is out of scale or less than
ut for any particular value.
by variable attenuator to set the outp

III. Mode study on Oscilloscope.

1. Set up the components and

equipment as shown in Fig 2.4.

attenuator minimum attenuation position.

2. Keep position of variable
at

FM-MOD position, FM amplitud

e and FM frequcncy knob at mid-
3. Set mode selector switch t0
fully anticlockwise and reflector
voltage knob to fully clockwise
position, keep beam voltage knob

31
 Microwave Engineering Labora
tory
ECE Department, NIT Kurukshetra
and Beam switch to 'OFF position.

4. Keep the
time/division scale of oscilloscope around 10011z.
and Volt/division to lower scale. frequency (t 0.01sec) measurement

5. Switch 'ON' the Klystron Power Supp

ly and Oscilloscopс.
6. Switch 'ON' Beam voltage and set beam voltage to 300
V by beam voltage control knob.
7. Keep amplitude knob of FM Modulator
to maximum position and rotate
anticlockwise to get modes on the oscilloscope. The horizontal axis represe the reflector voltage
nts reflector voltage and
vertical axis represents output power.

8. By changing the reflector voltage and amplitude of FM

modulation, any mode of Klystron tub: can
be seen on Oscilloscope. Model Waveform
s are shown in Fig 2.3.

Measurement

Carrier Wave Operation

Beam Voltage: - 250 Volts

Sr. Repeller Voltage (Volts) Micrometer reading

Frequency Meter
No.
reading (GHz)

Square wave operation

S No. Reflector Voltage (in Volts) Amplitude (from Frequency (in GHz)
display)

3
 Microwave Engineering Laboratory
ECE Department, NIT Kurukshetra

Power (mW
Output
-50 -100 -150 -200

Eepeller Veirage (V)

Fig. 2.5 Mode study of reflex klystron

DscitOSCOD
Kt-stror power supply

Setup of equipment for

mode study of klystron
Fig. 2.6
 Microwave Engineering Labora
tory
ECE Department, NIT Kurukshetra

Fig. 2.7 Oscilloscope display of klystron mode

SWR reading (a power) Frequency meter reading (in

S. No. Repeller Voltage (in volts) GHz)

Calculations:

may be
er ofthe modes
lt ag e of tw o ad ja ce nt modes, mode numb
top vo
1) Knowing mode
tion below:
computed from ua
Eq

3
(n+1) + 4
NV 3
N V 17-4
4

lculated from equati

on below:
of ca ch mode may be ca
Knowing mode numb
er, transi t ti me 3
2)
4.sec
4
Jo a1

34
 Microwave Engineering Laboratory
ECE Department, NIT Kurukshetra

3) Calculate electronic tuning range, i.e., the frequency band from one
end of the mode to another.
4) ETS may be calculated from equation below:
ETS=- MH
MHz/V
V-V

f and f being half power frequencies in GHz, and V2 and V₁ are corresponding voltages for a
particular mode. A practical example is given below:
3
N V (n+1)+2 n+0.75 -64
11=
32.9
4
i. Or, n+1.75 -105.5 Or. 40.5
N V 3
n+
4
ii.
Hence, N=1.75 and N, =2.75 are the respective mode numbers. Corresponding transit
times are:

N 1.75
-×10- =1.8x10s
=

Lo 9.465
N 2.75
1 = x10 = 2.9 x10-
fo2 9.47
jii. ETR for 1.75 mode = (9.488-9.435) ×10 Hz = 53 MHz
ETR for 2.75 mode = (9.482-9.425)×10° Hz = 57 MHz
46
iv. ETS for 1.75 mode = f-MH2/V= 9.485-9.39 x10° Hz /V = 40 3.4MHz/V
V-V 111.5-98 13.5
9.482-9.487 45
ETS for 2.75 mode = -x10 Hz/V = = 3.9MHz/V
69-57.5 11.5

Result:
observed.
The performance characteristics of reflex klystron tube are

Questions

1. What is velocity modulation?

2. Mention the Principle used in Klys
tron?
3. When the o/p power of reflex klystron
maximum?
4. List the application of reflex klystron
5. What is transit time?
6. Which mode number is most freq
uently used? Why?
7. How many cavity Reflex Klystron does have?
8. What is bunching?
9. What is electronic tuning?
10. Importance of multicavi
ty klystron?