E-resources
Peer reviewed
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Menninger, W.L.; Benton, R.T.; Choi, M.S.; Feicht, J.R.; Hallsten, U.R.; Limburg, H.C.; McGeary, W.L.; Xiaoling Zhai
I.E.E.E. transactions on electron devices, 05/2005, Volume: 52, Issue: 5Journal Article, Conference Proceeding
For traveling wave tube (TWT) amplifiers which transmit downlink signals from both geo-synchronous satellites and deep-space spacecraft, the single most important attribute continues to be overall dc-to-RF conversion efficiency. Currently, the most popular satellite downlink bands are 3.4 to 4.2 GHz and 10.9 to 12.75 GHz. This paper discusses recent production TWTs at L-3 Communications Electron Technologies, Inc., which are achieving dc-to-rf efficiencies of over 70% at power levels ranging from 65 to 150 W in these high-demand satellite downlink frequency bands. These TWTs continue to provide a large advantage over the use of equivalent solid-state power amplifiers.
