High-power microwave emission by magnetized virtual cathode oscillator

Summary form only given, as follows. The results of computer simulation of an axially extracted virtual cathode oscillator with an external guide magnetic field are presented. The simulation was performed using the electromagnetic relativistic particle-in-cell (PIC) computer code KARAT. The foil diode parameters as accelerating voltage, cathode diameter and anode-cathode gap are chosen in such a way that the beam current injected through the anode foil into the output waveguide exceeds the space charge limited current but on the outer side it is below the critical current for beam pinching. In this case without using an external guide magnetic field the beam expands in radial direction until it hits the conductive wall. It is shown that the vircator can operate with and without magnetic field however in the case without guide magnetic field the vircator efficiency is small due to the current losses in radial direction. The emitted microwave power with guide magnetic field is bigger than in the case without magnetic field and the microwave frequency slightly increase with magnetic field intensity increasing. The results from computer simulation are compared with experimental results obtained in a similar vircator configuration.