Stabilized Operation of a Microwave Compressor Driven by Relativistic S-Band Magnetron

Abstract

The stabilized operation of a microwave compressor based on a travelling wave resonator, producing at its output microwave pulses with a power of 1.15 ± 0.05 GW and duration of 12 ± 2 ns, is described. The compressor is pumped by a relativistic S-band magnetron generating microwave pulses with a power up to 250 MW and duration of ~100 ns. To stabilize the frequency of the microwaves generated by the magnetron, a transparent cathode having a limited electron emission surface and double ring-type straps between the anode resonators were applied. It was shown that the application of a phase-shifter between the magnetron and resonator results in the influence of the positive feedback on the magnetron operation beginning within the first 10 ns of the microwaves generation. Finally, the incorporation of symmetrically placed phase-shifters in the compressor's resonator allows the travelling wave phase to be adjusted, and accordingly, reliable ignition of the microwave gas discharge switch.