Rep-rate operation of a 300 kV, high-power microwave sealed-tube vircator

Jonathan M. Parson; Curtis F. Lynn; James William B. Bragg; Patrick Kelly; Mark Taylor; David Barnett; Shad Holt; James C. Dickens; Andreas A. Neuber; John J. Mankowski; Michael C. Scott; Steve E. Calico

doi:10.1109/IPMHVC.2014.7287274

Rep-rate operation of a 300 kV, high-power microwave sealed-tube vircator

Jonathan M. Parson, Curtis F. Lynn, James William B. Bragg, Patrick Kelly, Mark Taylor, David Barnett, Shad Holt, James C. Dickens, Andreas A. Neuber, John J. Mankowski, Michael C. Scott, Steve E. Calico

Electrical and Computer Engineering

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

4 Scopus citations

Abstract

Thermal limitations of anode materials are known to impose limits on rep-rate operation of cold-cathode high-power microwave (HPM) sources. This study focuses on performance of pyrolytic graphite (PG) anodes at a 500 Hz burst-mode operation in a reflex-triode virtual-cathode-oscillator (vircator). In most experiments, a 42 J, 300 kV pulse forming network (PFN) based Marx generator with an approximate pulse width of 50 ns full-width-half-max (FWHM), was utilized to drive the vircator. Rep-rated operation of the vircator exacerbates the problems already experienced in single-pulsed mode where vircators are plagued by plasma formation on the anode and cathode followed by plasma/gas expansion that causes degradation of anode materials. Hence, for frequency-stable, repetitive operation, vircators require the use of thermally robust electrode materials and ultra-clean vacuum surfaces, leading to repeatable diode operation. This contribution presents thermal modeling of anode heating and experimental electrical behavior of vircator rep-rate operation.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Proceedings of the 2014 IEEE International Power Modulator and High Voltage Conference, IPMHVC 2014
Editors	Allen L. Garner
Publisher	Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.
Pages	326-328
Number of pages	3
ISBN (Electronic)	9781467373234
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1109/IPMHVC.2014.7287274
State	Published - Oct 1 2015
Event	IEEE International Power Modulator and High Voltage Conference, IPMHVC 2014 - Santa Fe, United States Duration: Jun 1 2014 → Jun 5 2014

Publication series

Name	Proceedings of the 2014 IEEE International Power Modulator and High Voltage Conference, IPMHVC 2014

Conference

Conference	IEEE International Power Modulator and High Voltage Conference, IPMHVC 2014
Country/Territory	United States
City	Santa Fe
Period	06/1/14 → 06/5/14

Keywords

Anodes
Cathodes
High power microwave generation
Thermal stability
Vircator

Access to Document

10.1109/IPMHVC.2014.7287274

Cite this

Parson, J. M., Lynn, C. F., Bragg, J. W. B., Kelly, P., Taylor, M., Barnett, D., Holt, S., Dickens, J. C., Neuber, A. A., Mankowski, J. J., Scott, M. C., & Calico, S. E. (2015). Rep-rate operation of a 300 kV, high-power microwave sealed-tube vircator. In A. L. Garner (Ed.), Proceedings of the 2014 IEEE International Power Modulator and High Voltage Conference, IPMHVC 2014 (pp. 326-328). [7287274] (Proceedings of the 2014 IEEE International Power Modulator and High Voltage Conference, IPMHVC 2014). Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.. https://doi.org/10.1109/IPMHVC.2014.7287274

Parson, Jonathan M. ; Lynn, Curtis F. ; Bragg, James William B. et al. / Rep-rate operation of a 300 kV, high-power microwave sealed-tube vircator. Proceedings of the 2014 IEEE International Power Modulator and High Voltage Conference, IPMHVC 2014. editor / Allen L. Garner. Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc., 2015. pp. 326-328 (Proceedings of the 2014 IEEE International Power Modulator and High Voltage Conference, IPMHVC 2014).

@inproceedings{dbead75b28ec42ffbbd3a9edb9ab4173,

title = "Rep-rate operation of a 300 kV, high-power microwave sealed-tube vircator",

abstract = "Thermal limitations of anode materials are known to impose limits on rep-rate operation of cold-cathode high-power microwave (HPM) sources. This study focuses on performance of pyrolytic graphite (PG) anodes at a 500 Hz burst-mode operation in a reflex-triode virtual-cathode-oscillator (vircator). In most experiments, a 42 J, 300 kV pulse forming network (PFN) based Marx generator with an approximate pulse width of 50 ns full-width-half-max (FWHM), was utilized to drive the vircator. Rep-rated operation of the vircator exacerbates the problems already experienced in single-pulsed mode where vircators are plagued by plasma formation on the anode and cathode followed by plasma/gas expansion that causes degradation of anode materials. Hence, for frequency-stable, repetitive operation, vircators require the use of thermally robust electrode materials and ultra-clean vacuum surfaces, leading to repeatable diode operation. This contribution presents thermal modeling of anode heating and experimental electrical behavior of vircator rep-rate operation.",

keywords = "Anodes, Cathodes, High power microwave generation, Thermal stability, Vircator",

author = "Parson, {Jonathan M.} and Lynn, {Curtis F.} and Bragg, {James William B.} and Patrick Kelly and Mark Taylor and David Barnett and Shad Holt and Dickens, {James C.} and Neuber, {Andreas A.} and Mankowski, {John J.} and Scott, {Michael C.} and Calico, {Steve E.}",

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doi = "10.1109/IPMHVC.2014.7287274",

language = "English",

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Parson, JM, Lynn, CF, Bragg, JWB, Kelly, P, Taylor, M, Barnett, D, Holt, S, Dickens, JC , Neuber, AA , Mankowski, JJ, Scott, MC & Calico, SE 2015, Rep-rate operation of a 300 kV, high-power microwave sealed-tube vircator. in AL Garner (ed.), Proceedings of the 2014 IEEE International Power Modulator and High Voltage Conference, IPMHVC 2014., 7287274, Proceedings of the 2014 IEEE International Power Modulator and High Voltage Conference, IPMHVC 2014, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc., pp. 326-328, IEEE International Power Modulator and High Voltage Conference, IPMHVC 2014, Santa Fe, United States, 06/1/14. https://doi.org/10.1109/IPMHVC.2014.7287274

Rep-rate operation of a 300 kV, high-power microwave sealed-tube vircator. / Parson, Jonathan M.; Lynn, Curtis F.; Bragg, James William B. et al.

Proceedings of the 2014 IEEE International Power Modulator and High Voltage Conference, IPMHVC 2014. ed. / Allen L. Garner. Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc., 2015. p. 326-328 7287274 (Proceedings of the 2014 IEEE International Power Modulator and High Voltage Conference, IPMHVC 2014).

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

TY - GEN

T1 - Rep-rate operation of a 300 kV, high-power microwave sealed-tube vircator

AU - Parson, Jonathan M.

AU - Lynn, Curtis F.

AU - Bragg, James William B.

AU - Kelly, Patrick

AU - Taylor, Mark

AU - Barnett, David

AU - Holt, Shad

AU - Dickens, James C.

AU - Neuber, Andreas A.

AU - Mankowski, John J.

AU - Scott, Michael C.

AU - Calico, Steve E.

PY - 2015/10/1

Y1 - 2015/10/1

N2 - Thermal limitations of anode materials are known to impose limits on rep-rate operation of cold-cathode high-power microwave (HPM) sources. This study focuses on performance of pyrolytic graphite (PG) anodes at a 500 Hz burst-mode operation in a reflex-triode virtual-cathode-oscillator (vircator). In most experiments, a 42 J, 300 kV pulse forming network (PFN) based Marx generator with an approximate pulse width of 50 ns full-width-half-max (FWHM), was utilized to drive the vircator. Rep-rated operation of the vircator exacerbates the problems already experienced in single-pulsed mode where vircators are plagued by plasma formation on the anode and cathode followed by plasma/gas expansion that causes degradation of anode materials. Hence, for frequency-stable, repetitive operation, vircators require the use of thermally robust electrode materials and ultra-clean vacuum surfaces, leading to repeatable diode operation. This contribution presents thermal modeling of anode heating and experimental electrical behavior of vircator rep-rate operation.

AB - Thermal limitations of anode materials are known to impose limits on rep-rate operation of cold-cathode high-power microwave (HPM) sources. This study focuses on performance of pyrolytic graphite (PG) anodes at a 500 Hz burst-mode operation in a reflex-triode virtual-cathode-oscillator (vircator). In most experiments, a 42 J, 300 kV pulse forming network (PFN) based Marx generator with an approximate pulse width of 50 ns full-width-half-max (FWHM), was utilized to drive the vircator. Rep-rated operation of the vircator exacerbates the problems already experienced in single-pulsed mode where vircators are plagued by plasma formation on the anode and cathode followed by plasma/gas expansion that causes degradation of anode materials. Hence, for frequency-stable, repetitive operation, vircators require the use of thermally robust electrode materials and ultra-clean vacuum surfaces, leading to repeatable diode operation. This contribution presents thermal modeling of anode heating and experimental electrical behavior of vircator rep-rate operation.

KW - Anodes

KW - Cathodes

KW - High power microwave generation

KW - Thermal stability

KW - Vircator

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T3 - Proceedings of the 2014 IEEE International Power Modulator and High Voltage Conference, IPMHVC 2014

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BT - Proceedings of the 2014 IEEE International Power Modulator and High Voltage Conference, IPMHVC 2014

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ER -

Parson JM, Lynn CF, Bragg JWB, Kelly P, Taylor M, Barnett D et al. Rep-rate operation of a 300 kV, high-power microwave sealed-tube vircator. In Garner AL, editor, Proceedings of the 2014 IEEE International Power Modulator and High Voltage Conference, IPMHVC 2014. Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc. 2015. p. 326-328. 7287274. (Proceedings of the 2014 IEEE International Power Modulator and High Voltage Conference, IPMHVC 2014). doi: 10.1109/IPMHVC.2014.7287274

Rep-rate operation of a 300 kV, high-power microwave sealed-tube vircator

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Keywords

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