First high-power experiments on a two-channel X-band active rf pulse compressor

A brief report is presented on experiments carried out at the NRL X-band magnicon facility on a two-channel X-band active rf pulse compressor that employs plasma switches. Experimental evidence is shown to validate the basic goals of the project, which include: simultaneous firing of plasma switches in both channels of the rf circuit, operation of quasi-optical 3-dB hybrid directional coupler, coherent superposition of rf compressed pulses from both channels, and operation of the X-band magnicon directly into the rf pulse compressor. For incident 1.2 μsec pulses in the range 0.63-1.35 MW, compressed pulses of 5.7-11.3 MW were obtained, corresponding to power gain ratios of 8.3-9.3. Insufficient bakeout and conditioning of the high-power rf circuit prevented experiments from being conducted at higher rf input power levels.