Microwave emission from an AXIAL-Virtual Cathode Oscillator driven by a compact pulsed power source

Abstract

For the generation of microwaves, Electron beam devices operating in vacuum are most widely used. For pulsed and high power microwave generation, Virtual cathode oscillators (VIRCATORs) are said to be simple in operation and construction. They are generally driven by a pulsed power source which gives high input powers to the Vircator connected as load. Vircator, depending upon its efficiency, converts the electrical input power to the microwave power. We are presenting the results of an axial Vircator operating in 2×10−4 mbar vacuum and is driven by a compact pulsed power source. The energy source and pulse compression is realized in very user friendly approach to run the system. The radiating system presently runs at relatively low powers but has the scope of reaching to high power by a logical improvement. A study of effect of collapsing diode impedance, of the vacuum field emission diode of the Vircator, on the microwave emission is presented in the paper. We are also presenting the microwave emission measurement conducted in the given system. Effect of vacuum is also studied to the extent of present experimental limits.