High power microwave generation using a repetitive electron gun with a ferroelectric cathode

Summary form only given. An electron gun using a ferroelectric cathode driven by a ferrite core transformer-pulse line system produces a 500 kV, 50-200 A 250 ns long beam. The beam is used to drive an X-band amplifier. The amplifier consists of a single stage disk loaded type structure. At the end of the amplifier, a coaxial mode converter is used to decouple the beam from the microwave radiation. The amplifier operates at a repetition rate of 0.1 Hz. The beam emission is controlled by a voltage pulse applied to the back of the ferroelectric. Results will be reported on the amplifier performance characteristics with a 50 A beam and the results compared with simulation data. An improved gun design, which gives a uniform cross section 200 A beam is being built, and early results obtained using the high current gun will also be presented.