Numerical analysis of high-power X-band sources, at low magnetic confinement, for use in a multi-source array

MacInnes, Philip and Donaldson, Craig R. and Whyte, Colin G. and MacLachlan, Amy J. and Ronald, Kevin and Phelps, Alan D. R. and Cross, Adrian W. (2022) Numerical analysis of high-power X-band sources, at low magnetic confinement, for use in a multi-source array. IEEE Transactions on Electron Devices, 69 (1). pp. 340-346. ISSN 0018-9383 (https://doi.org/10.1109/TED.2021.3130503)

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Abstract

High-power microwave sources are typically relativistic in nature, employing multi-kilo-ampere electron beams that require significant magnetic confinement for efficient operation. As the desired output power increases so does the complexity, and overall energy requirements, of the source. It can therefore be advantageous to consider the use of several, moderate-power, sources operating as a phased array; for an array of N sources the far-field peak intensity scales as N2, and the peak-of-field may be steered electronically by varying the relative phases of the different output signals. In this paper we present the numerical analysis of a short-pulse (∼1ns) X-band backward-wave oscillator, driven by a 210keV, 1.4kA electron beam, suitable for use as the radiative element in such an array. Investigation of the required magnetic confinement showed two peaks in performance, with the highest efficiency, of 43%, predicted at the low magnetic confinement peak at 0.3T, corresponding to 125MW peak output power. The magnitude, and timing, of the peak in the output pulse were functions of the rise-time of the electron beam energy, with longer rise-times resulting in delayed peak-of-field and lower peak output power. When operating in an array, to maintain effective output in the region of N2, it was determined that the beam rise-times, across all sources, should be ≤150ps with the adjustment of the relative timing between output’s being ±30ps.

ORCID iDs

MacInnes, Philip ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2882-9817, Donaldson, Craig R. ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6627-2461, Whyte, Colin G. ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5431-2443, MacLachlan, Amy J. ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8960-1683, Ronald, Kevin ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8585-0746, Phelps, Alan D. R. ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1100-1012 and Cross, Adrian W. ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7672-1283;
  • Item type:Article
    ID code:78991
    Dates:
    Date
    Event
    31 January 2022
    Published
    8 December 2021
    Published Online
    22 November 2021
    Accepted
    Subjects:Science > Physics
    Department:Faculty of Science > Physics
    Depositing user: Pure Administrator
    Date deposited:20 Dec 2021 13:43
    Last modified:11 Nov 2024 13:19
    URI:https://strathprints.strath.ac.uk/id/eprint/78991
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