For the purpose of the present discussion the magnetron will be defined as a diode thermionic tube, having concentric cylinders as electrodes, in which there is a uniform magnetic field parallel to the axis of the electrodes. An electron emitted from the cathode travels towards the anode in a path which is bent by the action of the magnetic field. If the anode has radius a and is at potential V with respect to the cathode of radius b, then it is well known that electrons emitted without velocity from the cathode will just graze the anode when the uniform and axial magnetic field has a value H such that