Modeling and Experiments of an Injection-Locked Magnetron With Various Load Reflection Levels

TL;DR

This study examines how load reflection levels affect the performance of an injection-locked magnetron at 5.8 GHz through theoretical modeling and experimental validation, revealing impacts on bandwidth and phase noise.

Contribution

It introduces a combined theoretical and experimental analysis of load reflection effects on injection-locked magnetrons, providing new insights for optimizing their performance.

Findings

Narrower locking bandwidth with increased load reflection.

Proper load mismatch suppresses sideband energy and reduces phase noise.

Experimental results qualitatively confirm theoretical predictions.

Abstract

In this article, we investigate the performance of an injection-locked 5.8-GHz continuous-wave magnetron with various load reflection levels. The load reflection is introduced to an equivalent magnetron model to theoretically evaluate the system performance. The effects of different load reflection levels on the magnetron's output are numerically analyzed. Experiments are performed while the load reflection is varied using an E-H tuner between a magnetron and a circulator. A narrower locking bandwidth is observed under constant injection power with increasing load reflection. The proper-mismatched system suppresses its sideband energy, thereby reducing phase noise. The experimental features qualitatively validate the theoretical analyses results. The investigation results also provide guidance for advanced applications in communication and high-energy physics based on injection-locked magnetrons.