Novel Configuration for a C-Band Axial Vircator With High Output Power

Abstract

We present a novel configuration for an axial virtual cathode oscillator (Vircator) operating in the C-band and designed for high output power applications. In order to enhance the efficiency, we have employed a geometry with up to seven reflectors along the drift space. While in previous research works this optimization process has been performed only varying the reflectors radii while using a fixed distance between reflectors,in our work we propose an optimization in terms of both reflectors radii and distances. Our optimized structure for the axial Vircator is able to provide an efficiency up to 15.6% and an output power of 1.6 GW in the C-band, with a working voltage of 510 kV and a cathodic current of 24 kA.