Feasibility Study of Axially- Extracted Virtual Cathode Oscillator

In this paper, we have analyzed the design parameters of the axially - extracted virtual cathode oscillator, which is high-power microwave source based on the concept of the virtual cathode associated with the intense relativistic electrons beam oscillations in the electrostatic potential well. The microwave emission by the virtual cathode oscillator results from both the space and time oscillations of virtual cathode and reflexing electrons trapped in the potential well between the virtual and real cathodes. In the X-band frequency spectrum 700 MW microwave peak power has been obtained analytically by the solid electron beam of 300 kV and 20 kA for feasible design parameters. The analysis has been performed by 2-dimensional, relativistic, electromagnetic particle-in-cell simulation code XOOPIC.     

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     

A Radially and Axially Extracted Virtual-Cathode Oscillator (Vircator)

Experiments are described in which a 5-? 1-MeV pulser drives virtual-cathode systems optimized to emit microwave radiation in the X band. Radiation is extracted both axially in TM modes and radially in TE modes. The threshold for microwave emission is found to be several times the space-charge limited current. The radiating frequency is approximately proportional to the electron beam plasma frequency with a proportional constant of (27?)1/2. Anode/cathode spacing is varied to demonstrate the frequency tunability of the virtual cathode as a microwave source. The radiation is broad band and frequency chirping is observed. Radiation patterns of the axially extracted radiation are described. The instantaneous efficiency of energy conversion from electrical to microwaves is ~2 percent. External excitation from an external source does not alter microwave generation.     

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

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.     

A microsecond-pulse-length, frequency-stabilized virtual-cathodeoscillator using a resonant cavity

Experiments at the microsecond pulse length have demonstrated that the virtual-cathode oscillator generates narrowband (0.3% bandwidth) microwave pulses when the virtual cathode is surrounded by a resonant cavity and is driven by an appropriate electron beam. This result is a significant departure from the behavior of a free-running virtual-cathode oscillator where the frequency depends on the (current density)^1/2. The long-pulse experimental results are described     

带状束高功率微波源宽通带收集极

设计了一种适用于带状电子束高功率微波源的宽通带收集极,在有效吸收束-波相互作用后的带状电子束的同时,保证了带状电子束高功率微波源的工作模式——矩形波导TM11模式高效率地通过。研究结果表明:在13~27GHz范围内,功率传输效率大于95%,这一宽通带特性使得该类型的收集极与带状电子束高功率微波源能够更好配合,显著提高了微波源的模拟优化和实验调试效率;TM11模式微波的传输效率对收集极厚度和长度等参数不敏感;该类型收集极结构具有良好的散热能力,在不加外部水冷装置的条件下,仅靠空气自然对流冷却和辐射冷却,可以承受电流3kA、电压300kV、脉冲宽度30ns及重复频率50Hz带状电子束的连续冲击。     

Efficiency enhancement of high power vacuum BWO's using nonuniformslow wave structures

The Sinus-6, a high-power relativistic repetitively-pulsed electron beam accelerator, is used to drive various slow wave structures in a BWO configuration in vacuum. Peak output power of about 550 MW at 9.45 GHz was radiated in an 8-ns pulse. We describe experiments which study the relative efficiencies of microwave generation from a two-stage nonuniform amplitude slow wave structure and its variations without an initial stage. Experimental results are compared with 2.5 D particle-in-cell computer simulations. Our results suggest that prebunching the electron beam in the initial section of the nonuniform BWO results in increased microwave generation efficiency, Furthermore, simulations reveal that, in addition to the backward propagating surface harmonic of the TM₀₁ mode, backward and forward propagating volume harmonics with phase velocity twice that of the surface harmonic play an important role in high-power microwave generation and radiation     

Effect of the anode-current magnetic field on the motion of electrons in a triode with a virtual cathode

The effect of the anode-current magnetic field on the electron motion in a triode with a virtual cathode is considered. It is shown that the anode-current magnetic field influences the oscillation period and trajectories of electrons. The condition of self-isolation of the electron beam is investigated as a function of the diode parameter. It is shown that the displacement of the beam electrons under the action of the anode-current magnetic field leads to a decrease in the electron phase modulation and an increase in the spread in the electron oscillation amplitude; as a result, the generation efficiency of microwave radiation decreases.     

虚阴极振荡激励高功率微波的数值模拟

模拟了轴对称虚阴极振荡器产生微波的过程。根据实验装置的特点,建立了理想的物理模型。从物理学的基本规律出发,用CIC方法编制了二维空间、三个动量分量的2 1/2维、全电磁、相对论性的数值模拟程序。选择柱状电子束进行模拟,获得了正确的计算结果和清晰的物理图象,并对计算结果作了分析。     

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.     

离子通道中的虚阴极辐射

提出了一种新型的基于等离子体的多级虚阴极振荡器物理模型并展开了研究.研究表明:当电子束通过稠密等离子体背景时,由于离子背景和焦点处虚阴极的共同作用,得以形成多级虚阴极;多级虚阴极对电子的作用,使电子在各级之间振荡,从而产生高功率微波辐射.这是与离子通道横向的betatron振荡完全不同的一种辐射机理.通过质点网格(particle in cell)法模拟验证了多级虚阴极的形成,模拟中发现,所选参数TM024模被激发起来.最后,在所建模型的基础之上对辐射特性做了详细分析.     

Operational features and microwave characteristics of the VircatorII experiment

The Vircator II oscillating virtual-cathode microwave source operates with diode voltages between 600 and 800 kV and diode current between 50 and 120 kA. Maximal microwave output power between 200 and 500 MW is achieved when the diode aspect ratio, cathode surface, charge voltage, and extraction coupling are arranged to simultaneously (1) maximize diode voltage, (2) satisfy magnetic insulation criteria, (3) avoid nonuniform or unstable electron emission, and (4) optimize microwave transmission from the virtual cathode to the launching antenna. Broadband radiation between 0.4 and 5.5 GHz is generated. The central frequency follows the beam plasma frequency. It is tuned by varying the current density with anode-cathode gap adjustments     

Time-and-space resolved measurements of the emission uniformity of carbon fibre cathode in high-current pulsed discharge

The remaining challenges, confronting high-power microwave (HPM) sources and pulsed power generators, stimulate the developments of robust relativistic electron beam sources. This paper presents a carbon fibre cathode which is tested in a single pulsed power generator. The distribution and the development of cathode plasma are observed by time-and-space resolved diagnostics, and the uniformity of electron beam density is checked by taking x-ray images. A quasistationary behaviour of cathode plasma expansion is observed. It is found that the uniformity of the extracted electron beam is satisfactory in spite of individual plasma jets on the cathode surface. These results show that carbon fibre cathodes can provide a positive prospect for developing a high-quality electron beam.     

The Turbutron

The physics of the turbutron is reviewed. This newly proposed high-power millimeter-wave source consists of an intensely oscillating relativistic turbulent electron plasma created in and beyond the gap of a diode configuration. The diode consists of an explosive cathode emitter and an extended anode structure connected to the inner and outer conductors, respectively, of a high-voltage pulse line under conditions of space-charge saturation. The gap spacing determines the dominant mode of the turbulent longitudinal waves which are directly converted into free transverse waves polarized parallel to the electron beam. The applied voltage waveform, cathode diameter, total scalar potential, nonlinear bunching mechanisms, and virtual-cathode dynamics determine the complex spectral characteristics. For a turbutron with a megavolt pulse across a 3-mm gap and without a resonator, calculations predict the immediate feasibility of gigawatt power levels at 35 GHz.     

单电子束双波段同轴相对论返波管粒子模拟

设计了一种能在C波段和X波段实现稳定双频输出的带有非对称谐振反射腔的单电子束同轴相对论返波振荡器。采用耦合阻抗跃变型慢波结构,使用粒子PIC模拟软件进行了粒子模拟研究。模拟结果显示:轴向电场在系统中的分布得到改进,电子束的能散得到改善。在电子束电压511 kV,电流8.95 kA,引导磁场0.73 T的条件下,双频器件实现了8.09 GHz和9.91 GHz的双波段频率稳定输出,平均功率为1.0 GW,波束互作用效率为21.9%, 效率高于空心双波段返波管及其他双波段器件。器件辐射功率的拍频为1.82 GHz,拍波更为明显和稳定。模拟研究中同时发现, 随着慢波结构之间漂移段的变化,双频频率都呈现一种准周期的变化。     

吉瓦级强流相对论多注电子束二极管的优化设计与实验研究

多注相对论速调管放大器可在较高的工作频段实现GW级功率微波产生,在很多领域得到了发展和应用.多注相对论速调管中强流相对论多注电子束相互之间存在空间电磁场的作用,使得多注电子束从二极管引入多注漂移管,以及在多注漂移管中的传输运动受到影响,导致电子束会轰击到管壁上,早期实验中多注电子束的传输通过率较低.本文对功率数GW的强...     

Nonlinear dynamics of longitudinal structures in the electron cloud of a coaxial electron string ion source

The results of 2.5D particle-in-cell simulation of a coaxial electron trap with an internal anode are reported. It is found that, when the circulating current reaches the value of the ultimate vacuum current, first a virtual cathode arises in the trap and then the beam compresses (distributed virtual cathode). The transient preceding the compressed state exhibits complicated nonlinear dynamics, when compressed regions alternate with regions that are in a two-flow state (phase-space bubbles or phase-space holes). Physically, phase-space holes are similar to the well-known Bernstein-Greene-Kruskal plasma structures. Three types of phasespace holes with different dynamics (oscillating holes, flying holes, and chaotic holes) are revealed. Consideration of phase-space holes as quasi-particles makes it possible to find several channels of their interaction in pair collisions. The feasibility of the coaxial trap as a source of highly charged ions is analyzed. Although the compressed beam mode provides a larger amount of accumulated electrons compared with the conventional two-flow mode, the mean kinetic energy in the presence of a virtual cathode turns out to be much lower. A way of elevating the mean kinetic energy is suggested that consists in increasing the limit vacuum current in the axial configuration with an internal electrode.     

同轴反射三极管振荡器的数值模拟

 提出了一种新型的同轴反射三极管振荡器并对其进行了数值模拟研究。新模型在阴极底座处延伸出一定半径和长度的内导体到互作用区,使得互作用区有了一定的电场梯度,有助于电子在虚阴极和阴极之间来回反射。另外,阴极内导体的引入也使得该器件要求的电子束阻抗可以较高,阴阳极间距可以较大。在电子束电压和电流分别为590 kV和19.1 kA、输出区波导半径为5.6 cm、二极管阴阳极间距为2.5 cm时,通过参数优化,模拟得到输出频率、周期平均功率和效率分别为3.62 GHz,1.7 GW和15%的微波输出。对器件的物理机制进行了初步分析,结果表明反射电子的振荡对微波的产生起主要作用。