Method for achievement of a multigigawatt peak power by compressing microwave pulses of a relativistic backward-wave oscillator in a helical waveguide

Bratman, V.L. and Denisov, G.G. and Samsonov, S.V. and Cross, A.W. and Ronald, K. and Phelps, A.D.R. (2007) Method for achievement of a multigigawatt peak power by compressing microwave pulses of a relativistic backward-wave oscillator in a helical waveguide. Radiophysics and Quantum Electronics, 50 (1). pp. 36-48. ISSN 0033-8443

Abstract

We show theoretically that the use of a circular oversized waveguide with a helically corrugated internal surface as a dispersive medium ensures efficient compression of frequency-modulated microwave pulses up to peak powers of about 10 GW. According to the calculations, a pulse with the required frequency modulation can be obtained in a relativistic backward-wave oscillator operated in the 3-cm wavelength range and producing an output power of hundreds of megawatts. In a demonstration experiment, a 80-ns pulse of kilowatt power with frequency modulation in a 5% band was compressed to a 1.5-ns pulse with a 25-fold power amplification.

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