Title :
Frequency Dependence of the Anode-Cathode Gap Spacing in a Coaxial Vircator System
Author :
Andersson, Jon ; Jansson, Magnus ; Aberg, D.
Author_Institution :
BAE Syst. Bofors AB, Karlskoga, Sweden
Abstract :
The objective of this paper was to investigate how the frequency of an electromagnetic pulse generated by an inward-emitting coaxial vircator is dependent upon the anode to cathode gap distance (AK-gap) in the vircator. Experimental tests of three different AK-gaps 29.5, 32, and 34.5 mm, were conducted with the high power microwave (HPM) system Bofors HPM Blackout. The system is working within the L- to S-band and the vircator is powered by a 1.8-kJ Marx generator at a maximum voltage of 600 kV. In addition, the experimental models of the coaxial vircators were also simulated in ATK MAGIC2D particle-in-cell code and the experimental frequency was compared with the theoretical frequency. The experimental frequency increased with decreasing AK-gap.
Keywords :
anodes; cathodes; pulsed power supplies; vircators; ATK MAGIC2D particle-in-cell code; Bofors HPM blackout; L-band; Marx generator; S-band; anode-cathode gap spacing; coaxial vircator system; electromagnetic pulse generator; energy 1.8 kJ; high power microwave system; inward emitting coaxial vircator; voltage 600 kV; Anodes; Cathodes; Generators; Impedance; Microwave oscillators; Probes; Transmission line measurements; Coaxial vircator; high power microwaves (HPMs);
Journal_Title :
Plasma Science, IEEE Transactions on
DOI :
10.1109/TPS.2013.2275023
