Initial testing of a reflex triode vircator with adjustable A-K gap and cavity reflector

C. F. Lynn; J. M. Parson; P. Kelly; D. H. Barnett; A. A. Neuber; J. C. Dickens; J. Mankowski

doi:10.1109/PPC.2015.7296907

Initial testing of a reflex triode vircator with adjustable A-K gap and cavity reflector

C. F. Lynn, J. M. Parson, P. Kelly, D. H. Barnett, A. A. Neuber, J. C. Dickens, J. Mankowski

Electrical and Computer Engineering

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › peer-review

2 Scopus citations

Abstract

Virtual cathode oscillators (vircators) can be easily tuned by altering the current density of the electron beam. This can be accomplished by changing the voltage applied to the a-k gap, or by physically changing the gap separation. Previous results with an adjustable a-k gap vircator achieved discrete tuning at frequencies of 1.5 GHz, 2.1 GHz, 4.1 GHz, 4.6 GHz, and 5.9 GHz. To achieve better tunability an adjustable cavity reflector was incorporated into the vircator design. Initial testing of the new vircator design has shown increased output power, as well as the ability to greatly increase the number of frequencies that can be tuned. Sweeping the A-K gap with the cavity reflector in two positions yielded 10 different frequencies of operation. Also sweeping the cavity reflector with the a-k gap set at 8.0mm yielded another unique frequency. Currently 11 unique frequencies have been identified, and the peak field measured from this vircator increased from ∼40 kV/m to ∼69 kV/m (> 70% increase in field). This paper illustrates the design of the vircator and presents some of the microwave data obtained. Additionally, a summary of all of the frequencies obtained and the peak field measured are included.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	2015 IEEE Pulsed Power Conference, PPC 2015
Publisher	Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.
ISBN (Electronic)	9781479984039
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1109/PPC.2015.7296907
State	Published - Oct 12 2015
Event	IEEE Pulsed Power Conference, PPC 2015 - Austin, United States Duration: May 31 2015 → Jun 4 2015

Publication series

Name	Digest of Technical Papers-IEEE International Pulsed Power Conference
Volume	2015-October

Conference

Conference	IEEE Pulsed Power Conference, PPC 2015
Country/Territory	United States
City	Austin
Period	05/31/15 → 06/4/15

Keywords

Anodes
Cathodes
Cavity resonators
Frequency measurement
Generators
Microwave measurement
Testing

Access to Document

10.1109/PPC.2015.7296907

Cite this

Lynn, C. F., Parson, J. M., Kelly, P., Barnett, D. H., Neuber, A. A., Dickens, J. C., & Mankowski, J. (2015). Initial testing of a reflex triode vircator with adjustable A-K gap and cavity reflector. In 2015 IEEE Pulsed Power Conference, PPC 2015 [7296907] (Digest of Technical Papers-IEEE International Pulsed Power Conference; Vol. 2015-October). Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.. https://doi.org/10.1109/PPC.2015.7296907

@inproceedings{0725f74a91124f7a9d20a946a07ab0c9,

title = "Initial testing of a reflex triode vircator with adjustable A-K gap and cavity reflector",

abstract = "Virtual cathode oscillators (vircators) can be easily tuned by altering the current density of the electron beam. This can be accomplished by changing the voltage applied to the a-k gap, or by physically changing the gap separation. Previous results with an adjustable a-k gap vircator achieved discrete tuning at frequencies of 1.5 GHz, 2.1 GHz, 4.1 GHz, 4.6 GHz, and 5.9 GHz. To achieve better tunability an adjustable cavity reflector was incorporated into the vircator design. Initial testing of the new vircator design has shown increased output power, as well as the ability to greatly increase the number of frequencies that can be tuned. Sweeping the A-K gap with the cavity reflector in two positions yielded 10 different frequencies of operation. Also sweeping the cavity reflector with the a-k gap set at 8.0mm yielded another unique frequency. Currently 11 unique frequencies have been identified, and the peak field measured from this vircator increased from ∼40 kV/m to ∼69 kV/m (> 70% increase in field). This paper illustrates the design of the vircator and presents some of the microwave data obtained. Additionally, a summary of all of the frequencies obtained and the peak field measured are included.",

keywords = "Anodes, Cathodes, Cavity resonators, Frequency measurement, Generators, Microwave measurement, Testing",

author = "Lynn, {C. F.} and Parson, {J. M.} and P. Kelly and Barnett, {D. H.} and Neuber, {A. A.} and Dickens, {J. C.} and J. Mankowski",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2015 IEEE.; IEEE Pulsed Power Conference, PPC 2015 ; Conference date: 31-05-2015 Through 04-06-2015",

year = "2015",

month = oct,

day = "12",

doi = "10.1109/PPC.2015.7296907",

language = "English",

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publisher = "Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.",

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Lynn, CF, Parson, JM, Kelly, P, Barnett, DH, Neuber, AA , Dickens, JC & Mankowski, J 2015, Initial testing of a reflex triode vircator with adjustable A-K gap and cavity reflector. in 2015 IEEE Pulsed Power Conference, PPC 2015., 7296907, Digest of Technical Papers-IEEE International Pulsed Power Conference, vol. 2015-October, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc., IEEE Pulsed Power Conference, PPC 2015, Austin, United States, 05/31/15. https://doi.org/10.1109/PPC.2015.7296907

Initial testing of a reflex triode vircator with adjustable A-K gap and cavity reflector. / Lynn, C. F.; Parson, J. M.; Kelly, P. et al.
2015 IEEE Pulsed Power Conference, PPC 2015. Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc., 2015. 7296907 (Digest of Technical Papers-IEEE International Pulsed Power Conference; Vol. 2015-October).

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › peer-review

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AU - Lynn, C. F.

AU - Parson, J. M.

AU - Kelly, P.

AU - Barnett, D. H.

AU - Neuber, A. A.

AU - Dickens, J. C.

AU - Mankowski, J.

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N2 - Virtual cathode oscillators (vircators) can be easily tuned by altering the current density of the electron beam. This can be accomplished by changing the voltage applied to the a-k gap, or by physically changing the gap separation. Previous results with an adjustable a-k gap vircator achieved discrete tuning at frequencies of 1.5 GHz, 2.1 GHz, 4.1 GHz, 4.6 GHz, and 5.9 GHz. To achieve better tunability an adjustable cavity reflector was incorporated into the vircator design. Initial testing of the new vircator design has shown increased output power, as well as the ability to greatly increase the number of frequencies that can be tuned. Sweeping the A-K gap with the cavity reflector in two positions yielded 10 different frequencies of operation. Also sweeping the cavity reflector with the a-k gap set at 8.0mm yielded another unique frequency. Currently 11 unique frequencies have been identified, and the peak field measured from this vircator increased from ∼40 kV/m to ∼69 kV/m (> 70% increase in field). This paper illustrates the design of the vircator and presents some of the microwave data obtained. Additionally, a summary of all of the frequencies obtained and the peak field measured are included.

AB - Virtual cathode oscillators (vircators) can be easily tuned by altering the current density of the electron beam. This can be accomplished by changing the voltage applied to the a-k gap, or by physically changing the gap separation. Previous results with an adjustable a-k gap vircator achieved discrete tuning at frequencies of 1.5 GHz, 2.1 GHz, 4.1 GHz, 4.6 GHz, and 5.9 GHz. To achieve better tunability an adjustable cavity reflector was incorporated into the vircator design. Initial testing of the new vircator design has shown increased output power, as well as the ability to greatly increase the number of frequencies that can be tuned. Sweeping the A-K gap with the cavity reflector in two positions yielded 10 different frequencies of operation. Also sweeping the cavity reflector with the a-k gap set at 8.0mm yielded another unique frequency. Currently 11 unique frequencies have been identified, and the peak field measured from this vircator increased from ∼40 kV/m to ∼69 kV/m (> 70% increase in field). This paper illustrates the design of the vircator and presents some of the microwave data obtained. Additionally, a summary of all of the frequencies obtained and the peak field measured are included.

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KW - Cathodes

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KW - Generators

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KW - Testing

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PB - Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.

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Lynn CF, Parson JM, Kelly P, Barnett DH, Neuber AA , Dickens JC et al. Initial testing of a reflex triode vircator with adjustable A-K gap and cavity reflector. In 2015 IEEE Pulsed Power Conference, PPC 2015. Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc. 2015. 7296907. (Digest of Technical Papers-IEEE International Pulsed Power Conference). doi: 10.1109/PPC.2015.7296907

Initial testing of a reflex triode vircator with adjustable A-K gap and cavity reflector

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