Operational features and microwave characteristics of the Vircator II experiment

Author

Price, D. ; Fittinghoff, D. ; Benford, J. ; Sze, Henry ; Woo, W.

Author_Institution

Phys. Int. Co., San Leandro, CA, USA

Volume

16

Issue

2

fYear

1988

fDate

4/1/1988 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

177

Lastpage

184

Abstract

The Vircator II oscillating virtual-cathode microwave source operates with diode voltages between 600 and 800 kV and diode current between 50 and 120 kA. Maximal microwave output power between 200 and 500 MW is achieved when the diode aspect ratio, cathode surface, charge voltage, and extraction coupling are arranged to simultaneously (1) maximize diode voltage, (2) satisfy magnetic insulation criteria, (3) avoid nonuniform or unstable electron emission, and (4) optimize microwave transmission from the virtual cathode to the launching antenna. Broadband radiation between 0.4 and 5.5 GHz is generated. The central frequency follows the beam plasma frequency. It is tuned by varying the current density with anode-cathode gap adjustments

Keywords

diodes; microwave generation; microwave oscillators; microwave tubes; 0.4 to 5.5 GHz; 200 to 500 MW; 50 to 120 kA; 600 to 800 kV; Vircator II oscillating virtual-cathode microwave source; cathode surface; charge voltage; current density; diode aspect ratio; diode voltage; extraction coupling; launching antenna; magnetic insulation; microwave output power; microwave transmission; nonuniform electron emission; Cathodes; Couplings; Diodes; Electron emission; Frequency; Insulation; Microwave antennas; Power generation; Transmitting antennas; Voltage;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Plasma Science, IEEE Transactions on

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0093-3813

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/27.3812

Filename

3812