Experimental optimization of a Reflex Triode Virtual Cathode Oscillator

Author

Mankowski, John J. ; Chen, Xupeng ; Dickens, James C. ; Kristiansen, Magne

Author_Institution

Dept. of Electr. & Comput. Eng., Texas Tech Univ., Lubbock, TX, USA

fYear

2004

fDate

18-23 July 2004

Firstpage

426

Lastpage

429

Abstract

Experimental findings on a high power Reflex Triode Virtual Cathode Oscillator (Vircator) at Texas Tech University are reported. In order to optimize performance, changes to the AK gap distance were made. The AK gap was varied from 0.5 to 1.5 cm. The type of cathode material employed was velvet. Cathode radius was 2.5 cm. The Reflex Triode Vircator is driven by a 350 kV Marx generator with a 60 ns, 20 ohm pulsed forming line. Typical peak input power is 4 GW. The output microwave power is measured in the far-field with a waveguide to coax adapter. Thus far we have observed microwave peak power output as high as 330 MW corresponding to a peak power efficiency of ~ 11 %. In an effort to provide premodulation to the vircator region, reflecting strips were added in the downstream waveguide. This technique has been employed with success by this group with a coaxial Vircator.

Keywords

pulse generators; pulsed power supplies; triodes; vircators; AK gap; Marx generator; Texas Tech University; coaxial vircator; distance 0.5 cm to 1.5 cm; distance 2.5 cm; downstream waveguide; microwave power; power 330 MW; power 4 GW; reflecting strips; reflex triode virtual cathode oscillator; resistance 20 ohm; time 60 ns; voltage 350 kV; Fourier transforms;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

ieee

Conference_Titel

High-Power Particle Beams (BEAMS 2004), 2004 International Conference on

Conference_Location

St. Petersburg

Print_ISBN

978-5-87911-088-3

Type

conf

Filename

6220572