The Study of a Reflex Oscillator Used to Generate High-Power Microwaves

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Abstract
The operation of a high-power short-pulse microwave generator is being studied both experimentally and computationally. The device is a reflex triode which uses a real and a virtual cathode. The operating voltage is 500 kV with an electrical power input of 18 GW and a microwave output power of 200-300 MW at frequencies ranging from 6 to 9 GHz for up to 50 ns. Microwave power is extracted axially in an 85-mm-diameter waveguide with an overall efficiency of 1.5 percent. We will discuss the effects of electron beam quality on output efficiency. Temporal behavior of the output shows a frequency chirping with time which can be related to the voltage and current profiles. Comparing the microwave output at 900 shows azimuthal symmetry. Oscillator behavior when immersed in an external magnetic field, with field strength ranges from 0 to 1.2 kG, will be discussed. Also, computer simulations show that, although the virtual-cathode and reflexing-electron frequencies can be different, a frequency locking can occur, resulting in a purer frequency spectrum with a higher power. Simulations at 2 MeV show microwave output efficiencies of up to 4 percent with peak powers approaching 10 GW.