BEHAVIOR OF ELECTRON BEAM DYNAMIC IN AN AXIAL VIRTUAL CATHODE OSCILLATOR

The electron beam dynamics in axial vircator was studied to improve microwave efficiency. In all types of high power microwave sources, the kinetic energy of the electron beam is transformed into microwave energy. This study was carried out through nitrogen gas and fixed anode-cathode gap distance of 4 mm. The axial distributions of microwave frequency, current density, electric current and thermal velocity of the electron beam were studied. It is clear from this study that the virtual cathode acts as energy storage and the virtual cathode field has an important role in extracting energy from the modulated electron beam.