Jitter suppression in crossed-field amplifier by use of field emitter

In a crossed-field amplifier having an anode and a cathode creating an electric field across a magnetic field in an interaction area, the improvement comprising:

• thermionic emitting means displaced from said cathode providing priming electrons in said interaction area upon initiation of said amplifier to enable a fast start-up of said amplifier, said thermionic emitting means being disposed in a space provided between adjacent anode vanes of said amplifier.

In a crossed-field amplifier having an anode and a cathode creating an electric field across a magnetic field in an interaction area, the improvement comprising:

• means for providing priming electrons to said cathode upon initiation of said amplifier to enable a fast start-up of said amplifier, wherein said priming electrons are emitted in response to said electric field.

In a crossed-field amplifier having an anode and a cathode creating an electric field across a magnetic field in an interaction area, the improvement comprising:

• means for providing priming electrons to said cathode upon initiation of said amplifier to enable a fast start-up of said amplifier, wherein said means comprises a field emitter having a semiconductor base and a plurality of fibers extending therefrom, the fibers emitting electrons in response to said electric field.

In a cross-field amplifier having an anode and a cathode creating an electric field across a magnetic field in an interaction area, the improvement comprising:

• means for providing priming electrons to said cathode upon initiation of said amplifier to enable a fast start-up of said amplifier, wherein said means comprises a thermionic emitting filament displaced from said cathode, said filament adapted to be connected to an external voltage source and emitting electrons in response to said voltage source, said filament being disposed in a space between adjacent anode vanes of said amplifier.