What Is a Magnetron?

During World War Two, multi-cavity magnetrons were used to equip aeroplanes with radar equipment. These were a breakthrough for allied forces. Pilots could see targets at night, while submarine crews could identify hostile vessels.

Magnetrons are used to produce very high frequency microwaves. They can produce up to four hundred watts of power in a relatively small space. They are used in microwave ovens and radar systems. They are also used in industrial heating.

The original magnetron was made of glass vacuum tubes with multiple anodes. The design was based on the work of Albert Hull, who was an electric company employee. Hull had been studying the control of electric currents with varying magnetic fields.

Hull's magnetron was not intended to produce VHF electromagnetic waves, but it did generate very high power. It also had a resonance at a low frequency, so it was capable of producing power at high frequencies.

Magnetrons are a relatively new device, but they have been developed by engineers and scientists. Magnetrons are used in radar systems, microwave ovens, and industrial heating. They can generate power at 95 GHz. They also work as oscillators. They are used in many forms of radar, but they are not used in continuous-wave radar. They do require precise control.

There are four modes of operation for magnetrons. Each mode has different efficiency levels. The modes vary in the frequency at which oscillations occur, and in the frequency that the electrons are deflected by the magnetic field.