Space charge effects on multipactor discharge of microwave components

Space charge effects on the multipactor discharge of microwave components have been studied in this paper. As the input power increasing to a level that multipactor avalanche is about to sustain, an oscillating steady state of multipactor electrons is formed due to the mutual repulsion caused by space charge effects. This steady state is proposed as a criterion of multipactor breakdown threshold for microwave components. The theoretical analysis of space charge forces is completed with an approximate model. Simulation results of practical microwave devices show that steady states can be sustained with affection of space charges, which is drastic as the input power going up to a critical level for multipactor breakdown. Employing this method, threshold of multipactor breakdown for microwave components can be predicted precisely.