Inductive output tube modeling and simulation code development

The inductive output tube (IOT) is the preferred technology for a number of applications requiring tens to hundreds of kilowatts of RF power at UHF and L-band frequencies and has been proposed for applications requiring as much as a megawatt CW. Although conceptually simple, modeling and simulation of the physics of the electron beam formation region within the IOT input cavity presents a significant challenge due to the disparate scales of the components. To address the needs of manufacturers of high-power IOTs and support the development of high-power Multiple-Beam (MB) IOT technology, our team is developing the tools necessary to allow end-to-end modeling and simulation, and design optimization, of the beam-wave interaction of these devices. The finite-element time-domain electrostatic PIC code MICHELLE [1], in conjunction with the Analyst® [2] suite of electromagnetic codes, are undergoing extensive modifications to provide modeling capability of the cathodegrid-anode structure that comprise the input cavity, while the beam wave interaction of the output cavity will be performed using the code TESLA [3]. The latest results of this effort will be shown.