Key-Holes Magnetron Design and Multiphysics Simulation

A. Leggieri*1, F. Di Paolo1, and D. Passi1

1
Department of Electronic Engineering, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, Italy
*A. Leggieri: Department of Electronic Engineering, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”,
Via del Politecnico, 1, 00133, Rome, Italy, [email protected], [email protected]

Abstract: This paper describes the design and process, the electron velocity decrease, and with
the characterization of an 8 slots resonant it, also its energy decreases since is transferred to
cavities Magnetron, which undergoes the a RF oscillating field.
thermal-structural effects due to the cathode In this study we describe an eight key holes X-
heating. The proposed study involves Thermal Band Magnetron operating in π mode, with
Stress (TS), Eigen-frequency (EF) and Particle copper anode and tungsten cathode. In order to
Tracing (PT) analysis based on a COMSOL simplify the model, cathode surface is modeled
Multiphysics (MP) simulation. as a copper layer. The comprised material
Magnetrons are well known and more utilized between anode and cathode is a high vacuum
High Power (HP) Radiofrequency (RF) Vacuum
medium that is air at pressure of P = 10-10 bar.
Tube (VT) oscillators. In order to generate high
The resonant mode of the coupled cavities
power signals, they employ thermoelectric
structure is called Normal Mode (NM), it
cathodes which can reach very high
temperatures, necessary to produce the enough identifies the field distributions of coupled
surface charge density [1]. oscillators. Several NM’s are allowed in the
Since device efficiency depends critically to anode-cathode space region. NM’s are called
the operating temperature, a Multiphysics (MP) with their resonant electric field phase shift
approach has been adopted. between two contiguous cavities. Typical NM’s
A PT and an EF analysis with a computation of for magnetrons are the π and 2π mode.
the power density distribution of the electric field By selecting opportune NM frequency, axial
resonant modes and particle trajectories and static magnetic induction B and anode cathode
velocities have been performed, considering the voltage V, electrons can oscillate and are not
thermal-structural modifications induced by the captured by the anode. This condition occurs
cathode heating to the entire structure. when the static field equals a particular value
called critical field related to the chosen NM.
Keywords: Magnetron, Eigen-frequency, Thermal In order to obtain the critical field, the anode-
Stress, Moving Mesh, Charged Particle Tracing. cathode voltage must equal the critical voltage
Vc and the axial magnetostatic induction must
equal the critical induction Bc.
1. Introduction Critical voltage of designed device can be
described by (1):
M
which
AGNETRONS are well known and more
utilized Vacuum Tube (VT) oscillators
generates High Power (HP)
1
VC  Brm df
2
(1)

radiofrequency (RF) signals by transferring With rm = (ra2 - rk2)/(2ra), where, rm is the

energy from an electron stream to a RF field. effective medium radius of anode and cathode in
Typical Magnetrons are constituted by a which rk and ra are respectively the cathode and
cylindrical cathode inserted coaxially in a anode radii, B is the Magnetic induction field
cylindrical anode, in which a set of resonant applied along the axial direction, d the anode
cavities is excavated. Electrons are emitted by cathode distance and f the desired NM operative
the cathode, from which are extracted by anode- frequency which will correspond to the
cathode voltage. Electron trajectory is then frequency of the generated microwave power.
deviated by the interaction with a static magnetic The critical magnetic induction is given by (2):
field in the axial direction, in order to let 2mV
electrons oscillating between the anode resonant BC  (2)
cavities, describing epicycloids. During this
ed 2
Where V is voltage applied between anode and
cathode. Critical values are much higher than the charge on the field. Moreover, the variables of
typical operative values, which are chosen in the problem are also dependent on the Coulomb
order to maximize the Magnetron efficiency [1]. forces interactions between the particles. For
For this device, the design π mode frequency is these reasons, is necessary to solve the problem
f = 9 GHz, then Vc = 130 [KV] with Bc = 1359 for the particles and fields simultaneously by
[G]. The chosen operative values are V = 60 couple a Particle Tracing (PT) and an
[KV] and B = 1330 [G]. Electrostatic (ES) analysis [5]. These coupling
The power dissipation of the cathode produces effects inside the acceleration-deflection space
a considerable temperature increase and induces require a time dependent (TD) analysis, in order
a thermal expansion of both the cathode and the to perform a PT characterization of the particle
anode, which is heated by the heat transfer trajectories representation with a description of
operated by the non ideal vacuum between anode energy and velocity. It allows besides to estimate
and cathode regions. If the cavity temperature the cathode electron density and the charge
exceeds a certain threshold, oscillation failure or distribution of the electron clouds in the
device damage may occur. transversal cross section of the Magnetron.
The thermal expansion of the materials may The Thermal Stress deformation of the
also induce significant stresses and strains with geometric shape and consequent modification of
consequent displacement of the resonant the potentially distribution of the EM field, in
structure, which alter the desired addition to the alteration of the resonance,
Electromagnetic (EM) behavior of the device. produces alternations of the particle spatial
In order to perform the characterization of the distribution and motion, causing variation of the
coupled cavities resonant system of Magnetrons, output power. By performing a TS analysis, the
an Eigen-frequency (EF) study is needed, in shape deformation can be estimated and used to
order to find the frequencies relative to the define a new geometry in which execute the EF,
allowed resonant normal modes. By performing ES and PT simulation.
an Eigenvalues (EV) analysis we can estimate
these resonant modes, describing their electric
field power density distribution in the transversal 2. Use of COMSOL Multiphysics
cross section of the Magnetron. This study is to
be performed, obviously in the steady state A Finite Element Method (FEM) based
condition, as the resonances are defined, by Multiphysics simulation using COMSOL can
using a stationary study. couple TS, EM, ES and CPT analysis by Moving
Moreover, a Thermal Stress (TS) stationary Mesh (MM) dedicated interface and storing
analysis allows to determine the temperature and temperature information.
the deformation when the heat generated by the In order to decrease computational time and
cathode power dissipation has been diffused on resources maintaining accuracy, the device
all the reachable Magnetron components and the model is organized by using several strategies
system has become thermally stable, since the allowed by COMSOL. The architecture of the
external temperature is by then steady over all model is based on TS, MM, Electromagnetic
the Magnetron outer boundaries, which are Waves (EMW), ES and CPT COMSOL
exposed to the external environment. modules.
For the Magnetron operation, an electron cloud
is generated by the thermo-electrical effect on 2.1 Thermal Stress
the cylindrical cathode lateral surfaces. These
electrons are accelerated, in the radial direction, The TS module is employed to describe the
by the static anode-cathode electric field and Thermal-Structural formulation of the problem
deflected by the axial magnetic field, in order to by using the following features [2]:
be extracted from their initial position, avoiding - Heat Sources: The cathode represents a
that they fall on the anode. constant volume heat sources made by
Since the ES fields are altered by the particles tungsten. The heat power density is
presence, we have a two-way coupling between established by design requirements, in
the particles and field: the field exerts a force on order to allow the cathode boundaries to
the particles and the particles exert a space reach the necessary temperature for
 thermo-electrical effect. The heat power structural elastic formulation by the TS
density has been set to Q = 0.405 analysis) is free to move. Initial
[GW/m3], in order to obtain the operative deformation is set to dx0 = 0, dy0 = 0 and
temperature of cathode thermo-electrical dz0 = 0.
emission, which is T=1050°C. - Prescribed Mesh Displacement: This
- Heat transfer in Fluids: The non ideal condition specifies that the boundary is to
vacuum atmosphere inside the Magnetron be deformed by the thermal stress
volume between anode and cathode is computation, though is attached to the
modeled only to describe the heat transfer free deformation air boundary. The
from cathode to anode. resonant structure boundaries, in the
- Fixed constraints: The external metallic region delimited by cathode external
surfaces of Magnetrons are locked to rigid surface and anode internal surface, are
structures in order to support the device. subjected to deformation. This superficial
Thus they represent fixed constraints for displacement has been specified by
the generation of the compressive forces setting the prescribed mesh displacement
induced by the thermal expansion. The to dx = u, dy = v, dz = w.
bases of the cylinder which represents the
cathode are also connected to an internal 2.3 Electromagnetic Waves
support, so that represent other fixed
boundaries. For this reason all the anode
external surface and the surface base of The EMW module is describes the EM
the cathode are modeled as fixed modeling, considering the surfaces losses, by
constraints. employing the following features [4]:
- Temperature: The external lateral surfaces - Impedance boundary condition: The
of the Magnetrons are typically cooled by lateral cathode surfaces and the internal
high efficiency fluid cooling systems. The lateral anode surface are modeled in order
temperature of Magnetron lateral outer to consider the losses due to the partial
boundaries is constant and equals the penetration of the electric field in the
cooling fluid temperature, in order to lossy material which constitutes the anode
model the thermal steady state. This and cathode walls. This condition allows
temperature has been fixed to 35°C, to exclude the anode and cathode domain
consistently with typical Magnetron to the EMW calculation, avoiding the
cooling systems. meshing and saving computational cost.
The specified thickness of the anode and
2.2 Moving Mesh cathode boundaries is fixed to 10 mm.
- Scattering boundary condition: The
The MM module is employed to give the rules surface bases of the interaction region are
on how to move the mesh in function of the made of non ideal vacuum. So that, the
displacement computed by the TS analysis. In plane wave which crosses this boundary
order to perform the RF analysis on the must be free to feed forward. This
deformed geometry, the MM module uses the condition makes a boundary transparent
following features [3]: for a scattered wave and potential
- Prescribed deformation: The combining resonance errors are avoided.
structure and the SSPA’s represent the
volumes subjected to deformation. The 2.3 Electrostatics
displacement vectors (u, v, w) computed
by the TS module are employed to The ES module is employed to describe the
specify this volumetric deformation. Its Electrostatic field formulation of the problem by
prescribed mesh displacement is set to using the main following features [6]:
dx = u, dy = v, dz = w. - Electric Potential: The anode electric
- Free deformation: The non ideal vacuum potential is set to zero and the cathode
volume (which is not subjected to any electric potential to Vk = -60 [MV].
 - Dielectric shielding: This feature is used - Electric Force: This feature is employed
to separate the anode electric potential to to define the electric part of the Lorentz
the cathode electric potential and is force F=e(-𝛻V). The particles are
applied on the external boundary which accelerated in the same orientation as the
connects anode and cathode. The surface electric field. The force is specified via
thickness has been set to 5.0 [mm]. the electric potential computed time
dependently by the ES module, by setting
2.4 Charged Particle Tracing “V = mod1.V” [5].
- Magnetic Force: This feature is
The CPT module is employed to calculate the employed to define the magnetic part of
particle trajectories considering ES computation, the Lorentz force F=ev∧B [5]. The
by employing the main following features: particles are deflected by the operating
- Inlet: In order to simplify the particle magnetic field imposed as a domain
emission, by neglecting the statistical condition. This force is specified via the
behavior, the electrons are released from operating magnetic induction which is
the cathode boundary only on its normal B = 1330 [G].
direction with a null medium value initial - Particle-Particle Interaction: This feature
velocity. Since the cathode current is employed to include the Coulomb
density is constant in time and on the interaction force between charged
cathode surface, the charge release is particles to the total force. The particle
represented by a short pulse sequence position is step by step updated, and the
with initial null value, so that the number process repeats until the specified end
of particle per release is given by (3): time for the simulation is reached [5].
It - Wall: In this feature, the anode
N (3) disposition to absorb charges has been
e included by setting the Disappear
Where I is the design cathode current, e modality of the walls. This condition well
the elementary charge of the electron and allows to identify the electrons trajectory
Δt is the time interval between two in the operative oscillating normal mode
consecutive charge releases. For this of the Magnetron.
design have been set I = 110 [A] and
Δt = 1.8∙10-11[s], thus we have 2.5 Analysis
N=1.23∙1010 particles per release. In order
to decrease computational costs, this In order to consider the computed temperature
number has been set to N1=123 and, as resulted from the TS analysis, the information
explained below, a charge multiplier has been inserted as the default temperature in all
factor has been added in order to respect the features in the EMW and ES module settings,
the space charge effect. The particle where required. By the MM module the meshes
release times have been set to start from of the model has been moved in function of the
t= Δt and stop to t=30 Δt, by steps of Δt. displacement computed by the TS analysis, in
- Particle field interaction: This node adds order to couple the TS with RF, ES and CPT
two-way coupling between the particles simulation by performing the RF, ES and CPT
and field. In order to model at the same analysis on the deformed geometry.
time the space charge effect (exerted by Due to the simplicity of the geometry, default
the electrons on the ES field) and the settings have been adopted, by choosing Physic
force (exerted by the electric field on the controlled mesh with Finer element size.
charges) this node has been added in the Complete mesh consists of 45258 elements.
CPT COMSOL module. Since the Minimum element size is 4.08E-4 m, which
number of charges per release has been corresponds to 0.012 λ, where λ is the
set to N1=123, a charge multiplier factor wavelength at 9 GHz.
of n = 108 has been specified in this The RF EF analysis has been performed
feature. The charge multiplication factor specifying the initial guess of 5 GHz, by
can be calculated as n=N/N1. inserting this value in “search for EF around”
and the number of desired EF’s has been set to following results. In order to underline the
10, in order to have a large resolution to deformation, stress and displacement are been
visualize the main normal modes, which are the plotted with a magnified scale, so that the
π and 2π modes . deformation scale has been increased. In the
The solver is organized in performing two following figures, black outlines represent the
steps: First, a stationary analysis to compute the original conformation, and the stained volume
thermal TS and MM in fully coupled mode, then represents the deformed structure.
an EF step to perform a stationary analysis which The maximum stress is near the cathode base
calculates the resonant electric fields. surfaces, since these ones are fixed constraints
Because of the impedance boundary condition and cathode is the heat source. Maximum stress
with a finite conductivity value, the model solves is about 6.0 [GN/m2] as shown in Figure 2.
a nonlinear Eigen-value problem. It is necessary
to provide a frequency at which to initially
evaluate the frequency-dependent surface losses
[4]. In the Eigen-value solver an initial guess of
5 GHz has been indicated as a linearization
point.
For the ES and CPT computation, the time
dependent analysis has been set to start at time
t=0 and end at t=120∙Δt, by steps of Δt. Note that,
in order to see the initial current transient, the
particle release has been set to start at t=Δt.
Figure 2. Stress – Magnified.
3. Results The maximum total displacement is located on
lateral cathode surface, and is about 0.125 [mm]
3.1 Temperature and is shown in Figure 3.
By imposing a Heat density of Q = 0.405
[GW/m3], for the cathode heating, the TS
stationary analysis has shown a maximum
temperature of 1050°C on the cathode internal
boundaries, perfectly according with the thermo-
electrical threshold for cathode electron release.
This result is shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3. Displacement – Magnified.

These values are very small respect the

wavelength, so will result in producing a little
alteration of the structure oscillating properties,
as shown by the following eigenfrequency
analysis.

Figure 1. Temperature.
3.3 Electric fields
3.2 Stress and Displacement
The simulation output shows the field power
By receiving the stored Temperature, the fully density distribution of the resonant modes in the
coupled stationary analysis has been shown the transversal cross section of the Magnetron.
 A cut plane has been set on the transversal fπ = 9.042 GHz and a variation of the quality
section of the Magnetron and it has been used to factors to: Q2π = 950, Qπ = 8250.
visualize the Electric field streamlines, in order
to evaluate the presence of the searched normal 3.5 Electrostatic Fields
modes. In the plane, the modulus of the x and y
component of the electric field have been Electric fields have been computed in order to
plotted. A particular graphical representation has consider the interaction between the electrostatic
been adopted in order to perform this evaluation. and magnetostatic prescribed fields with the
The search of normal modes has been supported space charge effect due to the presence of
by superposing, on the same streamline graphic, electron in the interaction area with a certain
a set of vectors composed by the x and y energy. The resulting maximum electric fields
components of the electric field at the center of are: In cold conditions: EMax = 7.94 [MV/m], and
the cavities. In order to save space we report in thermo mechanical operative conditions: EMax
only the resonant field plot in thermal stress = 8.03 [MV/m]. This situation allows to work in
working condition, which qualitatively fits the X-band in pulsed wave with an appropriate duty
plot in cold condition. Resonant field are plotted cycle, in order to not exceed the Kilpatrik
in Figure 4 and 5. Arrows represent the resonant threshold, avoiding to trigger sparks.
electric field direction inside cavities.
3.6 Particle trajectories and velocities

Thermal excitation contributes to increase the

maximum particle velocity magnitude from
vcold = 1.196∙108 [m/s] in cold conditions, to
vhot = 1.227∙108 [m/s] in thermo mechanical
operative conditions. Particle trajectories and
velocities are represented in Figure 6 and 7. A
more visible trajectory is reported in Figure 8.

Figure 4. π mode - E field - cross section – working

conditions.

Figure 6. Particle Trajectories with velocity

magnitude – without heating.
Figure 5. 2π mode - E field - cross section – working
conditions.

3.4 Eigen-frequencies and Quality factors

The resulting Magnetron EF’s and Quality

factors in cold conditions are: f2π = 3.673 GHz,
fπ = 9.061 GHz and Q2π = 1000, Qπ = 8300.
In thermo mechanical operative conditions, the
displacement and the electrical properties
alteration of the materials cause a variation of the Figure 7. Particle Trajectories with velocity
Eigen-frequencies to: f2π = 3.663 GHz, magnitude – working conditions.
3.7 Superposition of particle trajectories and 4. Conclusions
resonant field
The Magnetron resonance and particle tracing
The superposition of the resonant field and the have been studied using COMSOL, and many
trajectories of the electrons have been plotted on aspects has been investigated.
a plane which bisects the Magnetron structure. The frequencies of resonance relative to the
This study allows to individuate the correct main normal modes of the analyzed device have
operating electrostatic and magnetostatic fields been found, in cold and in thermal-stress thermo
conditions. By setting the static conditions of π mechanical operative conditions, by using an EF
mode operation and plotting particle trajectories, analysis and adopting particular graphical
a superposition with π mode oscillating field representation of the electric field, in order to
shows a correct synchronism condition. This facilitate the search.
result is reported in Figure 8. The alteration of the normal mode frequency of
resonance, due to the thermal-structural working
condition, has been studied, obtaining a complete
characterization of the proposed device.
The electric field power density has been
computed and plotted in cold and thermal-stress
operative conditions. Quality factors have been
also plotted for all the found resonances.
Operative electrostatics and magnetostatics
condition are been, applied and the interaction
with space charge, have been computed together
with the particle coordinates and velocities.
Figure 8. Cross section of a short particle tracing The Magnetron particle motion related to the π
scrap over π mode resonant electric field in cold mode operation has been described.
conditions. In order to verify the correct excitation of the
particles by the applied fields, the superposition
of the resonant field and particle trajectories
3.8 Magnetron π mode Working Points
cross sections are been performed by post-
processing the separate physics results.
By performing this simulation, the Magnetron
The Magnetron π mode working points have
working points related to the π mode operation
been documented.
have been found. These points are the couples of
By applying the design condition: V=60KV,
electrostatic voltage V and magnetostatic
B=1330G in order to have I=110A; this device,
induction B which ensures the superposition of
with a typical efficiency of 40%, can produce a
particle trajectories with the resonant π mode
pulsed microwave peak power of 2.64 MW.
electric field. Working points are reported below
in Figure 9.
8. References

1. George B. Collins, Microwave Magnetrons,

McGraw Hill, New York, 1948.
2. COMSOL Structural Mechanics Module
User’s Guide Version: May 2012 COMSOL 4.3.
3. COMSOL Multiphysics User’s Guide;
Version: 2010 COMSOL 4.3.
4. COMSOL RF Module User’s Guide Version:
May 2012 COMSOL 4.3.
5. COMSOL Particle Tracing Module Users
Figure 9. Magnetron π mode working points: Cathode Guide, Version May 2012, COMSOL 4.3.
voltage on the horizontal axis and axial magnetic 6. COMSOL AC/DC Module Users Guide
induction on the vertical axis. Version May 2012, COMSOL 4.3.