Investigation of a millimeter-wavelength-range relativistic diffraction generator

A theoretical and experimental study has been made of the operation of a millimeter-wavelength-range sectional relativistic diffraction generator (RDG). Microwave power transported into the atmosphere with the peak parameters of 3.5 and 4.5 GW at the wavelengths of 6.5 to 6.8 mm and 9 to 11.3 mm, respectively, has been obtained. The power at the generator output, up to a horn antenna, has reached 7 and 9 GW for each of the regimes, respectively, the electronic efficiency being equal to approximately 30%. Plasma formed in a slow-wave structure of the RDG is shown to be of considerable importance for radiation pulse duration limitation. Experiments aimed at increasing the pulse duration up to 0.7 mu s have been performed. Theoretical investigation of the beam interaction with a slow-wave structure field has shown that the generation frequency may be determined by the resonance features due to the transverse motion of beam electrons.>