Towards High-Power Microwaves

TL;DR

This paper reviews and compares three types of high-power microwave sources without magnetic guiding fields, focusing on their design, simulation, and experimental testing for high output power and long pulse duration.

Contribution

It provides a comparative analysis of SCO, axial vircator, and virtual cathode oscillator sources for high-power microwaves, including simulation and experimental results.

Findings

All sources achieved high power microwave pulses with ~100 ns duration.

Each source demonstrated specific advantages and weaknesses in power output and stability.

The study offers insights into optimizing HPM sources without magnetic guidance.

Abstract

In this paper, we review and compare HPM sources operating without a magnetic field to guide the electron beam that are capable of producing high-power microwave (HPM) pulses with a duration of about 100 ns. The proposed analysis summarizes multi-year research carried with three types of HPM sources: a split-cavity oscillator (SCO); an axial vircator; and a virtual cathode oscillator in Reflex Triode geometry. These options were simulated for electron beam energy $\sim$400 keV and for pulsers with demonstrated capability to provide high power microwave pulses with the required pulse duration. Designed sources were experimentally tested, and their advantages and weaknesses are discussed with respect to high output power, long pulse duration, and good operating stability.