Microwave generation from rotating electron beams in magnetron-type waveguides

Abstract

The production of high power microwave radiation at high harmonics of the electron cyclotron frequency by the interaction of a rotating electron beam with a magnetron-type conducting boundary has been studied theoretically and experimentally using a 2-MeV, 1–2-kA, 10-ns electron beam pulse. Approximately 10% of the electron beam power has been converted to microwave radiation at the 12th harmonic, and about 2% at the 20th harmonic. Radiation characteristics are in good agreement with a theoretical analysis of the resonant interaction of a beam mode with the modes of the conducting boundary system. Radiation from rotating beams in ‘‘glide-symmetric’’ boundary systems is also reported.