A wave treatment of the continuous cathode crossed-field amplifier

The continuous cathode crossed-field amplifier, a device characterized by high eificiency and low phase pushing, is considered in terms of wave theory. Based on analytical treatments that have appeared in the literature, a plasma propagation constant is postulated and correlated with observed experimental results. From this, a qualitative concept of mode coupling is dxawn which has proven to be of great value in understanding crossed-field devices and in predicting the characteristics of newly designed tubes. Following a brief section devoted to the crossed-field diode, the experimental observations which led to the theory are presented, culminating in a coupling-of-modes picture of the interaction which is similar to the familiar beam tube treatment. Relationships necessary for checking the theory are given and attention is paid to several important observations affecting design.