Initial operation of an ultra-compact, low voltage Reltron microwave source

This paper presents, in detail, the design and initial operating characteristics of an ultra-compact, low voltage Reltron source. This device was custom built by Titan/PSI for the University of New Mexico. The initial motivation for developing such a source was for use in a graduate-level pulsed power and plasma science laboratory course. The low voltage compact nature of the system, packaged in a "turn-key" system, makes it an ideal source for studying the basic operating principles of a commercial Reltron high power microwave (HPM) source. Whereas the source preserves the fundamental operating characteristics of a Reltron (including the novel post-acceleration gap feature) the low voltage driver (on the order of 100 kV) limits the microwave power levels that are generated. We will present the cold test results of the cavity, pulsed power characteristics of the driver, as well as results of computer simulations of the source using MAGIC. We will also discuss possible applications of this ultra-compact source.