Metal alloy cathodes for application in vacuum microwave devices

Metal alloy cathodes based on alloys Pt-Ba, Pd-Ba, Ir-La, Ir-Ce, Os-Th and Re-Th are described. These metal alloy cathodes have a unique combination of emission, thermal and physical properties and found a wide application in vacuum microwave devices (traveling-wave tubes, backward-wave oscillators, klystrons, magnetrons). Cathode design of these metal alloy cathodes is described and will be presented.