60-PERCENT-EFFICIENT MINIATURE C-BAND VACUUM POWER BOOSTER FOR THE MICROWAVE-POWER MODULE

Results from a high-efficiency miniaturized C-Band vacuum power booste r (VPB) development program have resulted in the development of a mini ature C-Band traveling wave tube (TWT) operating at 32% circuit effici ency and 61% total efficiency at an output power in excess of 170 W at 100% duty factor. When combined with a microwave power module, this V PB results in a module DC-to-RF conversion efficiency of 51%, This hig h-efficiency power amplifier is particularly well suited for space and airborne applications where;small size, light weight, and low thermal dissipation are required. Other parallel development of VPB's operati ng at lower perveance and higher power has also been pursued and has r esulted in nearly identical performance of 32% circuit efficiency and 61% total efficiency at power levels in excess of 240 W at 100% duty f actor. A new TWT interaction code, CHRISTINE, is benchmarked with expe rimental data from several of these VPB's. Simulated performance is se en to accurately predict experimental data.