A Cerenkov microwave generator with cross-band frequency hopping based on magnetic field tuning

Abstract

Frequency hopping is one of the most significant technological advancements in high power microwave (HPM) sources. Mechanical alteration is generally adopted in traditional cross-band microwave generation, but it has the detriments of a complex adjustment strategy. In this paper, a cross-band frequency hopping Cerenkov microwave generator with an advantageous adjustment strategy, high beam–wave interaction efficiency, and pure output mode is developed. Two-segment slow wave structures (SWSs), which work in C and X-bands separately, are adopted. Additionally, by utilizing the cyclotron resonance absorption phenomenon reasonably, only the relative band microwave is energized under different magnetic fields, which adequately represses mode competition and realizes cross-band frequency hopping. After the electron beam passes through the first SWS section, the bunching center is consistently at the acceleration or deceleration phase of the subsequent SWS section, which a guarantees high beam–wave interaction efficiency in the two bands. The preliminary results of the particle-in-cell (PIC) simulation are as follows: when the guiding magnetic field is 0.7 T, the microwave output comprising only the X-band is obtained, with an efficiency of 42%; when the guiding magnetic field is 1.5 T, the microwave output comprising only the C-band is obtained, with an efficiency of 30%.