High gain miniature crossed-field amplifier

Claim 1

A miniature high gain crossed-field amplifier having an anode and a cathode and being charged with a voltage potential to create an electric field in an interaction area, said crossed-field amplifier comprising: an anode having a slow wave structure, said slow wave structure having a plurality of radially extending vanes, said vanes having a predetermined pitch and a plane of symmetry such that the distance between the plane of symmetry of each vane is substantially narrow as compared with the thickness of each said vane, said vanes also having a predetermined length height, said height being greater than half of said length; a pair of helical coils disposed, respectively, about upper and lower regions of said plurality of vanes such that each turn thereof is disposed about a respective one of said plurality of vanes, said pair of helical coils formed from a pair of wires having a substantially uniform cross-sectional thickness, each turn of said pair of coils having a predetermined substantially uniform plane of symmetry diameter, wherein said cross-sectional thickness of said wire is at least one order of magnitude less than said plane of symmetry diameter of each of said turns; whereby the plane of symmetry diameter of each of said turns of said pair of coils in relation to the cross-sectional diameter of said wires, the pitch of said vanes, as well as the length and width thereof, promote high power gain while aiding in dissipation of heat.