Vircator

Abstract: Phase locking is considered both for a case in which an oscillator is driven by an external signal without feedback, and for a case in which two coupled oscillators drive each other. A comprehensive sustained oscillator model is used for the driven microwave cavity. The new locking conditions for two coupled oscillators show that phase locking can occur only when the connector contributes the zero or π phase delay. Temporal behavior is solved numerically. Calculations with large priming power agree with the experiments on a high‐power magnetron driven vircator in which there is no feedback to the magnetron. The mutual drive calculations also agree with the experiments on high‐power coupled magnetrons.

Abstract: A new type of virtual cathode oscillator, the coaxial vircator, was studied analytically and experimentally. A one-dimensional analytical model was used to describe the steady-state behavior of the electron beam and the virtual cathode, from which the diode current, the space-charge limited current, the virtual cathode position, and the estimated oscillation frequency were obtained. The experiments were carried out with typical electron-beam parameters of 500 kV, 40 kA, and 30 ns, where pulsed microwaves of 400 MW in peak power and 2 GHz in frequency have been obtained. The energy efficiency from the electron beam to microwaves was /spl sim/2%. This efficiency is expected to be improved by increasing the microwave field strength around the vircator.

Abstract: The paper describes theoretical, numerical, and experimental studies of a decimeter wavelength vircator with electron beam premodulation. Possible mechanisms for the excitation of electromagnetic oscillations in virtual cathode systems are analyzed (modulation of current, reflex klystron effect, and inertial bunching of reflected particles). It is demonstrated that the microwave efficiency in a double-gap virtual-cathode system may be substantially higher than that in a single-gap one. Based on one- and three-dimensional numerical simulations, an experimental mockup of double-gap vircator without external magnetic field has been developed. In experiments employing the SINUS-7 high-current repetitively-pulsed electron accelerator, single-mode microwave generation in the S-band was obtained with /spl sim/1 GW peak power and /spl sim/25 ns pulse width at about 5% efficiency. The generator showed frequency stability from pulse to pulse and throughout each pulse, which proves the dominant role of the electrodynamic system used in the vircator construction. Varying the cavity parameters allowed continuous frequency tuning within about 15% at half power. Sample batch operation of the system at 20 and 50 p.p.s. was demonstrated.

Abstract: The electrical characteristics and design features of a low inductance, compact, 500 kV, 500 J, 10 Hz repetition rate Marx generator for driving an high-power microwave (HPM) source are discussed. Benefiting from the large energy density of mica capacitors, four mica capacitors were utilized in parallel per stage, keeping the parasitic inductance per stage low. Including the spark-gap switches, a stage inductance of 55 nH was measured, which translates with 100 nF capacitance per stage to ∼18.5Ω characteristic Marx impedance. Using solely inductors, ∼1mH each, as charging elements instead of resistors enabled charging the Marx within less than 100 ms with little charging losses. The pulse width of the Marx into a matched resistive load is about 200 ns with 50 ns rise time. Repetitive HPM generation with the Marx directly driving a small virtual cathode oscilator (Vircator) has been verified. The Marx is fitted into a tube with 30 cm diameter and a total length of 0.7 m. We discuss the Marx operation at up...