Circuit simulation analysis of a vircator powered by different high-voltage pulse sources

The high-voltage pulse source is a key component in systems that generate high-power microwave (HPM) radiation. Different types of high-voltage pulse sources have different characteristics and interact differently with the radiation source. This paper presents a circuit simulation study of the interaction between a vircator load and three different high-voltage pulse sources. The voltage pulse sources considered, which have previously been studied experimentally, are a Marx generator, a high-voltage system based on a small explosively driven magnetic flux compression generator and a cable-based generator. The circuit simulation models have been validated by different experiments. The different voltage sources generate different shape, amplitude and duration of the voltage pulse. The effect of these differences on electric power deposition in, and impedance of, the vircator are discussed.