RF/Microwave Magnetrons Key Terms

Acquaint yourself with RF/microwave magnetrons terminology

By Howard Robertson

A microwave or radio frequency magnetron is a cross-field device that employs magnetic and electric fields in its operations. A microwave magnetron usually consists of a diode vacuum tube that has cavities and is capable of generating non-coherent microwaves. Magnetron technology is common in microwave ovens and radar applications.

While interacting with the RF/microwave magnetrons service providers, you will come across various technical terms. This guide will help you understand RF/microwave magnetrons related key terms, such as microwave oscillator, microwave klystron, magnetron sputtering and radio frequency safety standards.

Vacuum tube

A vacuum tube (also known as an electron tube or thermionic valve) is a device used to create or amplify an electrical signal by controlling the flow of electrons in vacuum.
Try: Penta Laboratories, a reputable manufacturer of vacuum tubes, provides detailed information about vacuum tubes, their workings and applications.

RF/Microwave klystron

A microwave klystron is a specialized vacuum tube used as an oscillator or amplifier at microwave frequencies to produce high-power radio signals.
Try: For information about a klystron, browse through the technical glossary by The Stanley R. Mickelsen Safeguard Complex (SRMSC), an online information resource.

RF/Microwave oscillator

Microwave oscillators convert DC power into radio frequency power, which is very important in a microwave system. RF or radio frequency oscillators generate periodic electric signals.
Try: Read through the basics of RF/microwave oscillators at Electronics-manufacturers.com, an informative Web site for electronics products.

Waveguides

Waveguides are metallic transmission lines that interconnect transmitters and receivers with antennas at microwave frequencies. A waveguide is capable of transmitting extremely high peak powers and has negligible loss during transmission.
Try: Learn more about waveguides at Microwaves101, an informative Web site about microwave technology.

TWT (Traveling Wave Tube)

A TWT is a microwave tube in which a beam of electrons interacts with a guided electromagnetic field to amplify microwave frequencies.
Try: For detailed information about TWT, you can read through the glossary by Earthnet Online, an informative Web site by the European Space Agency.

Magnetron sputtering or sputtering

Magnetron sputtering is a technique of coating material with a wide range of materials. Sputtering is the removal of atomized material from a solid due to energetic bombardment of its surface layers by ions or neutral particles.
Try: For more information about magnetron sputtering, browse through Angstrom Sciences, Inc., a supplier of magnetrons and high-purity materials.

Radio frequency safety standards

Radio frequency and microwave safety standards refer to the restrictions and exposure limits for protecting the user from dangers that arise from working with radio frequencies.
Try: At The International Electromagnetic Field (EMF) Dosimetry Project , you can get a better understanding of various ANSI (American National Standards Institute), IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) and NCRP (National Council on Radiation Protection & Measurements) safety standards for radio frequencies.