A Novel Geometry Multi-Stage Depressed Collector for the Efficiency Enhancement of Space Traveling Wave Tubes

A novel geometry of a multi-stage depressed collector with four stages has been designed for Ka-band space traveling wave tube. The inner structure of each electrode of the collector has been provided with a single-step corrugation of a positive slope followed by a negative slope. The performed simulation predicts that the proposed collector has 7 % more efficiency, less back streaming of electrons and lower weight as compared to the collector with conventional geometry. Additional features of this collector include inherent secondary electron trapping mechanism and better power handling capabilities. Above properties of the proposed collector makes it suitable for space applications.