Magnetron anode design for short wavelength operation

A magnetron anode for short wavelength operation in a magnetron, comprising:

• a first conductor;
• a second conductor positioned relative to the first conductor;
• a plurality of inter-digitated pole pieces, wherein adjacent pole pieces of the plurality of inter-digitated pole pieces are separated by a gap and are coupled to different ones of the first conductor and the second conductor;
• and
• at least one mechanical phase reversal positioned along the first conductor or the second conductor, the mechanical phase reversal operable to force a polarity change on at least one pole piece adjacent to the mechanical phase reversal.

A method of producing electromagnetic radiation in a magnetron, said magnetron including an anode, a cathode, electrical contacts for applying a DC voltage between the anode and cathode, and at least one magnet arranged to provide a dc magnetic field within an anode-cathode space generally normal to the electric field, wherein the anode includes a plurality of inter-digitated pole pieces, wherein adjacent pole pieces of the plurality of inter-digitated pole pieces are coupled to different ones of a first conductor and a second conductor, the method comprising the steps of:

• applying a voltage to the anode and cathode thereby accelerating electrons from the cathode to the anode, wherein the electrons form a circulating electron cloud;
• forming at least one wave mode along a surface of the anode, wherein the wave mode develops a charge on the pole pieces and forms fringing fields;
• and
• compensating for a phase reversal of the wave mode, such that continuously in-phase fields are provided to the electron cloud.

An electromagnetic radiation source, comprising:

• an anode comprising:
• a first conductor;
• a second conductor positioned relative to the first conductor;
• a plurality of inter-digitated pole pieces, wherein adjacent pole pieces of the plurality of inter-digitated pole pieces are separated by a gap and are coupled to different ones of the first conductor and the second conductor;
• at least one mechanical phase reversal positioned along the first conductor or the second conductor, the mechanical phase reversal operable to force a polarity change between pole pieces coupled to the first conductor and pole pieces coupled to the second conductor;
• a cathode separated from the anode by an anode-cathode space;
• electrical contacts for applying a dc voltage between the anode and the cathode and establishing an electric field across the anode-cathode space;
• and
• at least one magnet arranged to provide a dc magnetic field within the anode-cathode space generally normal to the electric field.