Images From the Development of a High-Power Microwave System

Author

Holt, Thomas A. ; Young, Andrew J. ; Elsayed, Mohamed A. ; Walter, John W. ; Neuber, Andreas A. ; Kristiansen, M.

Author_Institution

Dept. of Electr. & Comput. Eng., Texas Tech Univ., Lubbock, TX

Volume

36

Issue

4

fYear

2008

Firstpage

1414

Lastpage

1415

Abstract

A recently developed self-contained compact single-shot high-power microwave (HPM) system was tested and characterized. The explosive-driven system utilizes a reflex triode virtual cathode oscillator (vircator) as the HPM source. An open-shutter image acquired with a digital single-lens reflex camera during operation was used to show plasma development extending beyond the anode-cathode gap of the vircator. The plasma´s self-emission is due to ionized material eroded and desorbed from both the cathode and the anode.

Keywords

high-frequency discharges; microwave generation; plasma devices; pulse generators; pulsed power technology; triodes; vircators; anode-cathode gap; digital single-lens reflex camera; explosive-driven system; helical flux compression generator; ionized material; open-shutter image; reflex triode virtual cathode oscillator; self-contained compact single-shot high-power microwave system; self-emission; vircator; Capacitors; Cathodes; Coils; Plasma materials processing; Plasma sources; Power conditioning; Power generation; Pulse amplifiers; System testing; Thermal management; Explosively driven pulsed power; helical flux compression generator (HFCG); power conditioning; vircator;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Plasma Science, IEEE Transactions on

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0093-3813

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/TPS.2008.924487

Filename

4599011