Numerical modeling of a magnetically insulated line oscillator

The Electrical Engineering department at the University of New Mexico is actively investigating the physics of electron beam driven high power microwave sources. One source of interest, which has been shown to radiate at Gigawatt levels, is the Magnetically Insulated Line Oscillator (MILO). The MILO is a coaxial cross field device coupled to a slow wave structure that is self-insulated and as such does not require an external magnetic field. One area of investigation is the electrical behavior and operation due to geometric changes within the device as well as how internal structures affect plasma generation due to desorbed neutrals and electron impingement. Specifically of interest is how these effects impact the long pulse behavior and multiple pulse capability of the MILO. This paper presents results of particle in cell numerical modeling of the effects of internal geometric changes of an 800 MHz MILO. This paper also presents the design of a modular MILO device that incorporates external and internal current diagnostics as well as various optical ports that will allow for spectroscopic and interferometry measurements of the temporal and spatial evolution of the resultant plasmas.