Introduction

In the past, the microwave components have been traditionally

machined from metal, and co-axial RF connections were made with
connectors generally leading to expensive heavy and bulky packages.
The Active Microwave Components domain covers semiconductor
technologies and components which are used for amplification, mixing,
switching and generation of microwave radio signals typically in the
frequency range between 300 MHz (wavelength 1m) and 300 GHz
(wavelength 1mm).
the most important semiconductor technologies used in active
microwave components include silicon, germanium, gallium arsenide ,
indium phosphide and gallium nitride. Microwave active components
are the workhorses of microwave systems. The performance of a circuit
can be optimized when the active components ground path impedance is
minimized and molded accurately.

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 Types of Microwave Active Components
The large variety of microwave active components is in use, active
components are classified into following categories:

 Klystron
1) Two Cavity Klystron
2) Reflex Klystron

 Slow wave Structure

1) Travelling Wave Tube (TWT)

 Cross field beam

1) Magnetron

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  Two Cavity Klystron

Klystrons are a special type of vacuum tubes that find applications as

amplifiers and oscillators at microwave frequencies. Its principle of
operation is velocity modulation. Thus the device used for amplifying
microwave signals is known as Two-cavity Klystron. TW i.e., Travelling
Wave Tubes are also used for amplification of RF signals and have
similar applications as klystrons. But in TWT, a continuous interaction
is maintained between the field and electron beam. While in klystrons
interaction between the two is allowed to occur only at the cavities of the
structure.

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Applegate Diagram:

Applications:
1) high-energy physics
2) used in radar
3) television broadcast
4) particle accelerators and medicine

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  Reflex Klystron

Like a two-cavity klystron, a reflex klystron utilizes the phenomenon

of velocity and current modulation to produce oscillations. However,
there exist variation in constructional structure and the respective
applications of the two. A reflex klystron consists of a single cavity that
performs the action of both buncher and catcher cavity. As to have
oscillations, feedback is needed to be applied at the input which is
provided by the oscillator.
While moving electrons undergoes velocity modulation and the repeller
applies repulsive forces on them. This leads to the formation of a bunch
of electrons. Further, this bunching will lead to cause, current
modulation.

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Applegate Diagram:

Application:
1) Radio and RADAR receiver
2) Pump oscillator for parametric amplifiers
3) Local oscillator in microwave receivers
4) Frequency modulated oscillator in portable microwave links

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  Travelling Wave Tube

The anode plates, when at zero potential, which means when the
axial electric field is at a node, the electron beam velocity remains
unaffected. When the wave on the axial electric field is at positive
antinode, the electron from the electron beam moves in the opposite
direction. This electron being accelerated, tries to catch up with the late
electron, which encounters the node of the RF axial field.

At the point, where the RF axial field is at negative antinode, the

electron referred earlier, tries to overtake due to the negative field effect.
The electrons receive modulated velocity. As a cumulative result, a
second wave is induced in the helix. The output becomes larger than the
input and results in amplification.

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Applegate Diagram:

Application:

1) TWT is used in microwave receivers as a low noise RF

amplifier.
2) TWTs have a long tube life, due to which they are used as
power output tubes in communication satellites.
3) TWTs are used in high power pulsed radars and ground
based radars.
4) TWTs are used in Troposcatter links, because of large power
and large bandwidths, to scatter to large distances.

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  Magnetron

A magnetron is basically a vacuum tube of high power having

multiple cavities. It is also known as cavity magnetron because of the
presence of anode in the resonant cavity of the tube.
The operating principle of a magnetron is such that when electrons
interact with electric and magnetic field in the cavity then high power
oscillations get generated magnetron, diode vacuum tube consisting of a
cylindrical (straight wire) cathode and a coaxial anode, between which a
dc (direct current) potential creates an electric field. A magnetic field is
applied longitudinally by an external magnet. Connected to a resonant
line, it can act as an oscillator.

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 Reference
1. https://www.toppr.com/

2. https://brainly.in/question/55425128

3. https://www.everythingrf.com/

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