Investigation of a millimeter-wavelength-range relativistic diffraction generator

A theoretical and experimental study has been made of the operation of a millimeter-wavelength-range sectional relativistic diffraction generator (RDG). Microwave power transported into the atmosphere with the peak parameters of 3.5 and 4.5 GW at the wavelengths of 6.5 to 6.8 mm and 9 to 11.3 mm, respectively, has been obtained. The power at the generator output, up to a horn antenna, has reached 7 and 9 GW for each of the regimes, respectively, the electronic efficiency being equal to approximately 30%. Plasma formed in a slow-wave structure of the RDG is shown to be of considerable importance for radiation pulse duration limitation. Experiments aimed at increasing the pulse duration up to 0.7 μs have been performed. Theoretical investigation of the beam interaction with a slow-wave structure field has shown that the generation frequency may be determined by the resonance features due to the transverse motion of beam electrons