Computer simulation of nonlinear coupling of high-power microwaveswith slots

Numerical calculations are used to determine the effects of air breakdown on the coupling of intense microwave pulses passing through enclosed slot apertures. The calculations are based on Maxwell's equations and a set of electron-fluid equations. Variations in the energies of microwaves transmitted through slot apertures as a function of incident-field intensity and aperture size are addressed. Results show that air-breakdown threshold energies in apertures have a functional dependence on pressure similar to that of air-breakdown threshold energies in the atmosphere