Electron Emission Nexus Theory for A Crossed-Field Diode*

Microwave vacuum electron devices are vital for military infrastructure for applications ranging from radar and communications to electronic warfare. Because they are efficient, maintain a high power density, and offer robust performance, crossed-field amplifiers (CFAs) dominate the high-frequency and high-power regimes. Determining the limits of CFAs as high-power amplifiers motivates better understanding of the relevant emission mechanisms. As a first step before using particle-in-cell (PIC) simulations, this presentation examines the transition between electron emission mechanisms for a crossed-field diode.