A high-power vircator based on an ironless linear induction accelerator of electrons

A high-power vircator that is based on the Korvet ironless linear induction electron accelerator built around radial pulse-forming lines is implemented for the first time. Results on the computer simulation and experimental optimization of the vircator are discussed. The experimentally found parameters of the vircator are the following: cathode current 35 kA (at a limit current of 19 kA), microwave pulse base widths 40 and 18 ns, and peak microwave power more than 500 MW.     

向外发射同轴型虚阴极振荡器研究

在高功率微波源研究领域提出了一种新型虚阴极器件——向外发射同轴型虚阴极振荡器.对其相关束流特性进行了理论分析,得到了同轴空间径向传输空间电荷限制电流,以及虚阴极产生的条件和电子束运动的基本规律.基于数值模拟得到的结果,向外发射同轴型虚阴极振荡器不仅表现出较高的能量转换效率,而且有利于增加虚阴极器件产生高功率微波的脉宽,同时还可以应用于低频段高功率微波源.这种虚阴极器件的可能输出微波方式也进行了讨论 关键词： 虚阴极 高功率微波 脉冲功率 电子束二极管     

大平面二极管虚阴极振荡器的宽脉冲微波辐射

给出了产生宽脉冲微波辐射的大平面天鹅绒二极管虚阴极振荡器的结构和测试装置，测得了二极管中阴－阳极等离子体的闭合速率为３０～４３ｋｍ／ｓ，获得了微波辐射的最大脉宽为１．５μｓ，产生的微波峰值功率约为１５ＭＷ，频率为０．５ＧＨＺ，指出这种平面二极管型虚阴极振荡器在辐射脉宽，辐射频率和辐射功率三者之间存在着物理上的制约关系，认为同轴型虚阴极振荡器是突破这种制约关系的一个新途径．     

同轴虚阴极振荡器数值模拟

 给出了同轴型虚阴极振荡器的数值模拟和部分理论分析结果, 指出许多几何结构参数包括阴极宽度、二极管间隙等都对输出微波的频率、带宽和能量转换效率有较大的影响。给出了这些参量之间关系的数值模拟结果，在一定程度上为同轴虚阴极振荡器的实验研究提供了理论基础。     

Optimization of the parameters of a virtual-cathode oscillator with an inhomogeneous magnetic field

A two-dimensional numerical model is used to study the generation of powerful microwave radiation in a vircator with an inhomogeneous magnetic field applied to focus a beam. The characteristics of the external inhomogeneous magnetic field are found to strongly affect the vircator generation characteristics. Mathematical optimization is used to search for the optimum parameters of the magnetic periodic focusing system of the oscillator in order to achieve the maximum power of the output microwave radiation. The dependences of the output vircator power on the characteristics of the external inhomogeneous magnetic field are studied near the optimum control parameters. The physical processes that occur in optimized virtual cathode oscillators are investigated.     

Influence of positive ions on oscillatory processes in an electron beam with virtual cathode

We numerically simulate the influence of positive ions on characteristics of the microwave oscillations in a nonrelativistic electron beam with the virtual cathode formed in a decelerating field (low-voltage vircator). A numerical scheme allowing for ionization of a residual gas by an electron flow is proposed. It is shown that the residual-gas ionization in the operating chamber of a low-voltage vircator leads to a forcing of the virtual cathode out of the transit gap and to a cutoff of microwave oscillations. The obtained numerical data are confirmed by an experimental study using a low-voltage vircator model. __________ Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Radiofizika, Vol. 49, No. 10, pp. 853–863, October 2006.     

反馈调制型同轴虚阴极振荡器

 对反馈调制型同轴虚阴极振荡器进行了理论分析和数值模拟研究,结果表明:该器件通过增加同轴谐振腔结构并引入反馈可以对入射电子束形成明显的调制效果,从而使得器件具有高束波转化效率和频率单一稳定的特性;同时输出微波的频率被器件结构中的同轴谐振腔锁定,调节腔参数可以在一定范围内对输出微波频率进行调谐;在二极管电压约为600 kV,电子束功率26.2 GW条件下,可以得到平均功率3.6 GW的微波输出,转换效率达到13.7%,主频为5.5 GHz,模式为TM₀₂模。     

30GHz RF脉冲压缩器设计

为得到脉宽150ns，功率超过100MW的30GHz微波脉冲，采用MSLED-II原理设计了30GHz RF-脉冲压缩器。H-Hybrid，TE100口-TE10o模式转换器等器件都采用了新型设计，所有微波器件的设计充分考虑了高功率下的适用性，没有容易引起打火的调谐杆、容性膜片等部件。在微波器件的设计中用HFSS软件进行了详尽的模拟。加工并测试了H-Hybrid，且用在CERN的RF脉冲展宽器上。     

轴向反馈式虚阴极振荡器的频率特性

 采用粒子模拟和实验相结合的方法对轴向反馈式虚阴极振荡器进行了研究。结果表明，轴向反馈式虚阴极振荡器能够有效地锁定微波频率，提高输出功率。在二极管电压为450kV，束流为22kA的条件下，当阴阳极间距大于1.3cm时，辐射微波主频约为3.5GHz，此时与腔的耦合较好，微波辐射功率较高；当阴阳极间距小于1.3cm时，辐射微波主频约为4.8GHz。实验和模拟符合得较好。     

TM01模虚阴极振荡器实验研究

 在SPARK-04强流相对论电子束加速器上，对轴向反馈式虚阴极振荡器进行了实验研究，并采用远场测量方法对其激励的高功率微波辐射进行了测量，测得了微波辐射主模及辐射功率。结果表明：微波辐射主模为TM₀₁模，辐射功率大于500 MW，微波转换效率大于3%，辐射频率约3.6 GHz，微波脉宽大于20 ns。同时，采用单反射面Vlasov天线，实现了该器件所激励高功率微波的定向传输。     

轴向反馈式虚阴极振荡器辐射微波模式的远场测定

 采用远场测量法测量了虚阴极振荡器波导口的微波辐射方向图及虚阴极振荡器波导口处接上TM₀₁-TE₁₁模式转换器时的微波辐射方向图,接收喇叭口面与微波辐射口之间的距离为1.00 m,满足远场条件。结果表明：两种情况下的辐射主模式分别为TM₀₁模式和TE₁₁模式,从而证实了在实验装置轴对称的条件下,轴向虚阴极振荡器的微波辐射主模式确为理论所预期的TM₂模式。对辐射模式的分析表明,TM₀₁模式纯度约为90%,TE₁₁模式的辐射功率为TM₀₁模式的5%左右;TE₂₁,TE₀₁和TM₁₁模式三者的总辐射功率较TM₀₁模式低一个量级以上,微波辐射功率大于300 MW,辐射频率为4.6 GHz左右,微波脉宽大于40 ns。     

3维并行全电磁粒子模拟软件UNIPIC-3D

介绍了自行研制的3维并行全电磁粒子模拟软件UNIPIC-3D。在该软件中,电磁场量用二阶精度的时域有限差分方法迭代,粒子用相对论牛顿-洛仑兹力方程推进。该软件拥有复杂器件的几何建模和网格自动剖分的功能,具有模拟相对论返波管、虚阴极振荡器、磁绝缘线振荡器等高功率微波器件的能力。且该软件具有强大的后处理功能,可以显示电场、磁场、电流、电压、功率、频谱、粒子相空间等。在高性能并行计算机上对软件的并行效率进行了测试。通过与2.5维UNIPIC软件的结果进行比较,验证了UNIPIC-3D软件的正确性。     

同轴虚阴极振荡器实验研究

 介绍了中国工程物理研究院应用电子学研究所关于同轴虚阴极振荡器实验的最新进展。实验结果表明，带阳极反射板结构的同轴虚阴极振荡器比不带阳极反射板结构的同轴虚阴极振荡器输出微波功率更高，频谱更纯。在二极管电压350 kV，电流23 kA条件下，输出微波峰值功率500 MW，能量转换效率约6.2%，工作频率为3.3 GHz。对实验结果进行了理论分析。     

新型高效率虚阴极振荡器

结合低磁场返波管振荡器和虚阴极振荡器的优点,设计了一个具有较高效率的虚阴极振荡器,通过添加半反射腔,使虚阴极在由阳极箔、波导和半反射腔组成的准谐振腔内形成,实现器件的高效率、高功率运行。当电子能量和束流分别为480keV和23kA时,采用2.5维粒子模拟(PIC)程序模拟得到频率为3.7GHz、功率为2.6GW的微波输出,器件束波转换效率约为23%。     

新型双间隙虚阴极振荡器的理论分析和数值模拟

 该新型双间隙虚阴极振荡器的互作用区为一带孔金属薄膜隔开的两个圆柱形谐振腔；器件采用侧向提取同轴输出的方法，具有输出效率高和输出模式纯的优点；第一阳极薄膜采用了局部薄膜结构。对互作用腔进行冷腔分析，计算得到互作用腔Ⅰ和Ⅱ的品质因子分别为6 960和71.8，共振频率为2.3 GHz。当电子束电压为515 kV、电流为10 kA时，通过参数优化，模拟得到周期平均峰值功率大于570 MW、频率约2.4 GHz的微波输出，效率达到11%。模拟还发现电子束的最佳阻抗值约为51.5 W；电子束的输入功率在较大范围内变化时，器件的输出效率保持大于10%；在一定的范围内，器件的输出效率随电子束密度的增加而增加。对器件中由于电子能量沉积而引起的阳极膜的温升进行了估算，得到膜的最高温度为434 K，远低于熔点933 K。     

A high power microwave vircator with an enhanced efficiency

A radially extracted vircator (virtual-cathode oscillator) with two identical opposite output ports is presented. The microwave modes propagating inside the WR650 output rectangular waveguide are determined by the calibrated E-probes lined up in the direction perpendicular to the axis of the WR650 waveguide. Velvet-covered cathodes are used to emit electrons. Several diameters of velvet are chosen to see how the emitting area effects microwave generation. Evidence of virtual cathode formation, onset of electron reflexing, and simultaneous microwave emission are discussed. This vircator is found to have the capability of generating a maximum 1.4 GW microwave pulse with the dominant frequency at 8.2 GHz. The radiation pattern is dominated by the TE₁₀ mode and the instantaneous efficiency for producing this microwave pulse is around 6±0.8%. Simple E-probes are applied to pick up the microwave signals inside the WR650 output rectangular waveguide     

Vircator with electron beam premodulation built around a high-current pulsed-periodic accelerator

Theoretical, numerical, and experimental studies of a vircator with the premodulation of a dm-wave electron beam are performed. Possible oscillation mechanisms in virtual-cathode systems (modulation of passing current, effect of reflex klystron, and inertial bunching of particles reflected) are analyzed. The microwave efficiency of the vircator using a two-gap electrodynamic system is shown to be significantly higher than that of the vircator with a one-gap system. Based on the results of the numerical experiment, a prototype of a two-stage vircator in the absence of an external magnetic field is designed. In experiments using a high-current pulsed-periodic accelerator, single-mode oscillations with a power of up to 1 GW, a duration of ≈25 ns, and an efficiency of ≈5% are generated in the dm-wave range. The oscillation frequency is demonstrated to be stable during a pulse and from pulse to pulse, which suggests the decisive effect of the electrodynamic system. It is shown that the oscillation frequency can continuously be tuned in a half-power bandwidth of ≈15% by varying the parameters of the resonator.     

The effect of an external signal on output microwave power of a low-voltage vircator

This Letter is devoted to results of the both experimental and theoretical studies of electromagnetic radiation output power gain in the low-voltage microwave generator with a virtual cathode (vircator) under an external harmonic signal leading to the preliminary velocity modulation of the electron beam. The simple theoretical model of the electron beam with virtual cathode in a diode gap with retarding field under the external signal has been developed. The theoretical and numerical analysis have shown the possibility of power amplification in the vircator under the external influence. Obtained results of the theoretical consideration are proven by the experimental study.     

Using the spectrum of Lyapunov exponents to analyze the dynamics of beam-plasma systems simulated by the large particle method

A method is proposed for calculating the spectrum of Lyapunov exponents for spatially distributed beam-plasma systems simulated by the large particle method. The effectiveness of the proposed approach is demonstrated by the example of an electron reference system consisting of a Pierce diode and a model of a low-voltage vircator as a source of broad-band microwave radiation.     

高效强流径向分离腔振荡器研究

根据同轴虚阴极的结构特点,提出了一种紧凑型径向分离腔振荡器,该径向分离腔的特点是输入电子束的电流可以很大,从而可以得到较高的微波输出功率. 综合考虑影响微波输出的各种因素,在电子束为410kV,电流为35kA的条件下,模拟得到的平均功率大于50GW,频率为146GHz,电子束功率效率达到348%. 关键词： 径向分离腔 高功率微波 同轴虚阴极 电子束分布