Demonstration of a plasma-assisted, helix-based slow-wave 1.2GHz oscillator (pasotron) operating at megawatt power levels with pulse durations of approximately 0.6ms and generating about 0.6kJ of microwave energy per pulse without pulse shortening is presented. This result was achieved in spite of significant voltage and current drop as well as the temporal evolution of the gas pressure in the interaction space during the rf pulse. The conditions for stable operation or mode hopping were studied and experimentally observed. The physical interpretation for this effect, which was caused by drop in the accelerating voltage due to limited energy storage in the power supply, is given. The results indicate that stable, high-efficiency, single mode operation of the pasotron with output energy of 1kJ/pulse and beyond can be realized.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Shkvarunets et al. (2006) studied this question.