Diode plasma effects on the microwave pulse length from relativistic magnetrons

Summary form only given, as follows. A model to account for the relativistic magnetron microwave pulse length based on radial cathode plasma motion is put forth. If the dense plasma front represents one part of the microwave boundary condition, its motion influences the magnetron resonance conditions. Both time varying pulse amplitudes and frequencies are expected. The main plasma ion constituent is believed to be hydrogen and its source is adsorbed water. Corroboration with measurements in various L-band magnetron configurations is demonstrated. Results of an experiment to defeat the pulse-shortening mechanism are presented and compared to similar experiments conducted by other researchers.