Observation of chaotic self-modulation regimes in powerful backward-wave oscillator

Self-modulating regimes of generation in X-band BWO with several megawatt power level was studied theoretically and experimentally. Periodic sinusoidal modulation of the output signal was observed, which became more complicated as the beam current grew, acquired the character of a series of spikes, and then lost its periodicity. The simplification of generation regimes under the further current increasing can be explained by the space charge influence.