Characterizing the high-power-microwaves radiated by an axial output compact S-band A6 segmented magnetron fed by a split cathode and powered by a linear induction accelerator

In a recent publication [J. Appl. Phys. 131, 023301 (2022)], microwave generation by a segmented A6 S-band axial output relativistic magnetron (RM) fed by a split cathode and powered by a small pulsed power generator was demonstrated for the first time. In the present article, we add to the same RM a mode converter and an antenna and drive it by using a modified linear induction accelerator (LIA) (<= 450 kV, <= 4 kA, similar to 150 ns). It was found that the operation of the RM for a split cathode or a common explosive emission cathode differs significantly. For a split cathode, we optimize for the best microwave output, its geometrical parameters, the external magnetic field, and the LIA's charg-ing voltages. For the optimal choice of these parameters, the RM generates similar to 160 ns long microwave pulses of similar to 130 MW, 1.78 GHz fre-quency with an electronic efficiency of similar to 40%, without pulse shortening. On the other hand, a common solid cathode fed RM showed microwave pulse shortening. We demonstrated that the segmented anode allows using a mu s-timescale magnetic field, making it possible for the RM to operate repetitively. (c) 2023 Author(s). All article content, except where otherwise noted, is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).