Three-dimensional particle-in-cell simulation of 10-vane strapped magnetron oscillator

The performance of a 10-vane strapped magnetron oscillator used in microwave ovens was benchmarked using the three-dimensional particle-in-cell (PIC) code MAGIC3D. The formation of the five electron spokes in the oscillation region confirms the π-mode oscillation of a 10-vane strapped resonator showing its mode separation with the adjacent mode to be 82%. The measured operating frequency of 2.465 GHz and the saturated output power of 1.04 kW are in good agreement with the simulated values of 2.470 GHz and 1.07 kW, respectively. The magnetron with an efficiency of 75% is operated at the beam voltage of 4.3 kV, the anode current of 0.33 A, and the cathode current of 1.08 A when the external axial magnetic field of 0.19 T is applied. In addition, the measured harmonic components of the radiated output are compared with the simulated one estimated by Fourier transformation of an induced radio-frequency voltage signal, showing good agreement.