Frequency Variation of a Reflex-Triode Virtual Cathode Oscillator

We present a study of the shot-to-shot variation in frequency of a reflex-triode virtual cathode oscillator with respect to peak diode voltage, current, impedance, and perveance. The typical electron-beam parameters were 185 kV, 7 kA, and 300 ns, with a current density of a few hundreds of amperes per square centimeter. The one-way analysis of variance was employed to examine the statistical correlation of the diode voltage, current, impedance, and perveance with the emitted microwave frequency. It was shown that the microwave dominant frequency variation is statistically correlated only with the peak diode current. However, the secondary emitted frequency is not statistically correlated with any of the electron-beam diode parameters.