Microwave generation in a reflex triode powered by an explosive wire generator

Summary form only given. We present results of simulations, design and experiments with a compact high-voltage generator which was used as a power supply for the generation of microwave pulses in a reflex triode. The generator, including the primary storage capacitor(1 /spl mu/F, 80 kV) and the reflex triode, has dimensions of 120/spl times/50/spl times/150 cm and it is based on inductive energy storage (storage inductance of /spl ap/1 /spl mu/H) and explosive wires. The storage inductance with explosive wires and sharpening gas switch are placed in a N/sub 2/+SF/sub 6/ filled hermetic volume which is separated from the reflex triode by a high-voltage interface insulator. We tested the operation of the generator with different active loads as well as with a conventional planar electron diode. It was found that the generator produces 70-ns pulses with voltage and current amplitude of 400-500 kV and 8-6 kA, respectively. The operation of the reflex triode was studied with different cathodes and anode-cathode gaps. The best results were obtained with a velvet cathode having diameter of 80 mm. Results of careful measurements of the parameters of the microwave radiation (frequency, power, directionality) are presented.