DURIP 97: Thermionic Cathode and Ceramic Insulator for Ultraclean High Power Microwave Sources

摘要

A Nd:YAG laser with a 600 W output power was procured and installed. Thermal defocusing in the laser's Nd:YAG rod suggested that the beam quality and power density were highest at about 400 W, rather than the full 600 W power level. The laser heated cathode system was installed on the MELBA diode. The ceramic insulator stack has been designed, fabricated and vacuum tested. It employs 12 ceramic rings alternating with Kovar rings which are vacuum brazed together.