A

David

Darling

magnetron

A magnetron is a vacuum tube containing an anode and a heated cathode. The flow of electrons from cathode to anode is controlled by an externally applied magnetic field. When incorporated in a resonant system, a magnetron can act as an oscillator. It can generate high frequencies and high power in short bursts, and is used in radar sets and microwave ovens.

For more details, see cavity magnetron.