Influence of the microwave magnetic field on high power microwave window breakdown

Summary form only given. Effects of the microwave magnetic field on window breakdown are investigated at the upstream and downstream side of a dielectric interface. Simple trajectory calculations of secondary electrons in an RF field show significant forward motion of electrons parallel to the microwave direction of propagation. The Lorentz-force due to the microwave magnetic field on high-energy secondary electrons might substantially influence the standard multipactor mechanism. As a result, the breakdown power level for the downstream side of a window would be higher than for the upstream side. This hypothesis was tested utilizing an S-band traveling wave resonant ring, powered by a 3 MW magnetron at 2.85 GHz, leading to a total power greater than 60 MW. Breakdown was studied on an interface geometry consisting of a thin alumina slab in the waveguide, oriented normal to the microwave propagation direction.