Theoretical and Experimental Research in High-Power Microwave Electronics

A special issue of Electronics (ISSN 2079-9292). This special issue belongs to the section "Power Electronics".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 January 2022) | Viewed by 16153

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Institute of High Current Electronics, Russian Academy of Sciences, 634055 Tomsk, Russia
Interests: high-current electron beams and electron diodes; repetitively pulsed electron accelerators; relativistic backward wave oscillators; slow wave structures for Cherenkov radiation; electrodynamics; microwaves applications in medicine

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Guest Editor
Physics Department, Technion – Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 32000, Israel
Interests: high-current electron and ion beams and electron and ion diodes; current carrying plasmas; high-power microwaves; underwater electrical explosion of wires and strong shock generation

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Guest Editor
Communications & Power Industries (CPI), Palo Alto, CA, USA
Interests: Gyrotron oscillators and amplifiers for fusion; radar; spectroscopy; and industrial applications

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The broad and exciting field of High-Power Microwaves (HPM) continues to enjoy active research and development at various universities, research facilities, and commercial organization around the world.  In this rapidly changing field with evolving applications, it useful to gather the results of current and continuing work in one journal issue. 

The goal of this Special Issue on High-Power Microwave Generation is, therefore, to collect manuscripts on the most recent theoretical and experimental results on HPM oscillators and amplifiers for applications including electronic warfare, radar, and accelerators.  In addition, review papers that capture the history and current state of broad areas of the technology and applications of HPM are welcome.

The Special Issue topics include the following:

  • Theoretical of High-Power Microwave oscillator and amplifier, including relativistic magnetrons, MILOs, vircators, travelling wave tubes, and gyrotrons;
  • Experimental demonstrations of new HPM devices;
  • Virtual cathode effects;
  • Electric breakdown issues and solutions;
  • High-voltage drivers and transmission lines for HPM;
  • Applications for HPM devices;
  • Special pulse generation;
  • HPM diagnositics;
  • Review papers on HPM device physics, demonstrations, theory, and modeling.

Dr. Vladislav V. Rostov
Prof. Yakov Krasik
Dr. Monica Blank
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • HPM oscillators and amplifiers
  • Relativistic magnetrons
  • MILOs
  • Virtual cathode effects
  • Electric breakdowns and ways of prevention
  • High-voltage drivers and transmission lines for HPM
  • Generation of microwave pulses of special form HPM diagnostic
  • HPM applications

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Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

Jump to: Review

12 pages, 2975 KiB  
Article
Theory of Peer-to-Peer Locking of High-Power Gyrotron Oscillators Coupled with Delay
by Asel B. Adilova and Nikita M. Ryskin
Electronics 2022, 11(5), 811; https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics11050811 - 4 Mar 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1533
Abstract
Peer-to-peer locking is a promising way to combine the power of high-power microwave oscillators. The peer-to-peer locking of gyrotrons is especially important because arrays of coupled gyrotrons are of special interest for fusion and certain other applications. However, in case of coupled microwave [...] Read more.
Peer-to-peer locking is a promising way to combine the power of high-power microwave oscillators. The peer-to-peer locking of gyrotrons is especially important because arrays of coupled gyrotrons are of special interest for fusion and certain other applications. However, in case of coupled microwave oscillators, the effect of delay in coupling is very significant and should be taken into account. In this article, we present the model of two delay-coupled gyrotrons. We develop an approximate theory of phase locking based on the generalized Adler’s equation, which allows for the treatment of in-phase and anti-phase locking modes. We also present a more rigorous bifurcation analysis of phase locking by using XPPAUT software under the limitation of small delay time. The structure of the phase-locking domains on the frequency-mismatch–coupling-strength plane of parameters is examined. Finally, we verify the results by numerical simulations in the case of finite delay time. The simulations reveal various regimes, including peer-to-peer locking, the suppression of one gyrotron by another, as well as the excitation of one gyrotron by another. Full article
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13 pages, 6290 KiB  
Article
A Repetitive Low Impedance High Power Microwave Driver
by Hanwu Yang, Zicheng Zhang, Jingming Gao, Tao Xun and Song Li
Electronics 2022, 11(5), 784; https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics11050784 - 3 Mar 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2319
Abstract
A low impedance high power microwave (HPM) driver is designed, which can be used in studying multi-gigawatt HPM devices such as the magnetically insulated transmission line oscillator (MILO), based on a helical pulse forming line (PFL) and the Tesla pulse transformer technology. The [...] Read more.
A low impedance high power microwave (HPM) driver is designed, which can be used in studying multi-gigawatt HPM devices such as the magnetically insulated transmission line oscillator (MILO), based on a helical pulse forming line (PFL) and the Tesla pulse transformer technology. The co-axial PFL is insulated by ethanol–water mixture, whose dielectric constant can be adjusted; and the helical line increases the output pulse width as well as the impedance to make a better match with the load. By the optimal combination of PFL charging voltage and output switch working voltage, the reliability of the PFL can be improved. The Tesla transformer has partial magnetic cores to increase the coupling coefficient and is connected like an autotransformer to increase the voltage step-up ratio. The primary capacitor of the transformer is charged by a high voltage constant current power supply and discharged by a triggered switch. A transmission line is installed between the PFL and the HPM load, to further increase the load voltage. A ceramic disk vacuum interface is used for improving the vacuum of the HPM tube. The experiments show that the driver can operate at 30 GW peak power, 75 ns pulse width and 5 Hz repetition rate. Full article
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12 pages, 3452 KiB  
Article
High-Voltage Drivers Based on Forming Lines with Extended Quasi-Rectangular Pulses for High-Power Microwave Oscillators
by Vladislav V. Rostov, Alexei S. Stepchenko, Pavel V. Vykhodtsev and Ruslan V. Tsygankov
Electronics 2022, 11(3), 406; https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics11030406 - 28 Jan 2022
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 3109
Abstract
The paper considers such modifications of an ordinary pulse-forming line (PFL) as double-width and triple-width forming lines (DWFL, TWFL) built around the PFL by nesting one and two additional uncharged lines, respectively, into its free volume inside the inner conductor of the PFL. [...] Read more.
The paper considers such modifications of an ordinary pulse-forming line (PFL) as double-width and triple-width forming lines (DWFL, TWFL) built around the PFL by nesting one and two additional uncharged lines, respectively, into its free volume inside the inner conductor of the PFL. The theoretical analysis is supported by simulation and experimental data, showing that the TWFL provides a 3-fold increase in the voltage pulse width and that it can be further increased by an arbitrary integer factor k. The results of the numerical simulations also show the electric field behavior and other features, including the edge effect in the TWFL. The proposed method opens up new opportunities for designing compact high-power microwace (HPM) sources. Full article
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20 pages, 3163 KiB  
Article
Klystron-like Cyclotron Amplification of a Transversely Propagating Wave by a Spatially Developed Electron Beam
by Ekaterina Novak, Sergey Samsonov and Andrei Savilov
Electronics 2022, 11(3), 323; https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics11030323 - 20 Jan 2022
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 1657
Abstract
A klystron-like gyro-amplifier based on the excitation of a wave propagating across a spatially developed (in the transverse direction) electron beam is described within the simplest 2-D model. Such a configuration is attractive as a way of implementation of a short-wavelength source with [...] Read more.
A klystron-like gyro-amplifier based on the excitation of a wave propagating across a spatially developed (in the transverse direction) electron beam is described within the simplest 2-D model. Such a configuration is attractive as a way of implementation of a short-wavelength source with a relatively high level of output power and with the possibility of quasicontinuous frequency tuning. We study the peculiarities of the 2-D process (developing in both the axial and transverse directions) of electron bunching and “free” wave emission from the electron beam in the open drift space, as well as the excitation of the output cavity used to provide formation of a compact and powerful output wave signal. The main problem of this 2-D process is that different fractions of the electron beam (located at different points of its cross-section) move in different wave fields. In addition, excitation of the parasitic wave propagating in the opposite direction relative to the operating wave is possible. However, we show that it is possible to organize effective electron–wave energy exchange for almost all fractions of the electron beam. Full article
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15 pages, 2927 KiB  
Article
Emission Features and Structure of an Electron Beam versus Gas Pressure and Magnetic Field in a Cold-Cathode Coaxial Diode
by Gennady Mesyats, Vladislav Rostov, Konstantin Sharypov, Valery Shpak, Sergey Shunailov, Michael Yalandin and Nikolay Zubarev
Electronics 2022, 11(2), 248; https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics11020248 - 13 Jan 2022
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2201
Abstract
The structure of the emission surface of a cold tubular cathode and electron beam was investigated as a function of the magnetic field in the coaxial diode of the high-current accelerator. The runaway mode of magnetized electrons in atmospheric air enabled registering the [...] Read more.
The structure of the emission surface of a cold tubular cathode and electron beam was investigated as a function of the magnetic field in the coaxial diode of the high-current accelerator. The runaway mode of magnetized electrons in atmospheric air enabled registering the instantaneous structure of activated field-emission centers at the cathode edge. The region of air pressure (about 3 Torr) was determined experimentally and via analysis, where the explosive emission mechanism of the appearance of fast electrons with energies above 100 keV is replaced by the runaway electrons in a gas. Full article
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13 pages, 5510 KiB  
Article
Operation Features of a Coaxial Virtual Cathode Oscillator Emitting Electrons in the Outer Radial Direction
by Se-Hoon Kim, Chang-Jin Lee, Wan-Il Kim and Kwang-Cheol Ko
Electronics 2022, 11(1), 82; https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics11010082 - 28 Dec 2021
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2109
Abstract
The operation features of the coaxial virtual cathode oscillator emitting electrons in the outer radial direction were investigated through simulations and experiments. A coaxial vircator was compared with an axial vircator when the anode to cathode distance of both vircators was 6 mm. [...] Read more.
The operation features of the coaxial virtual cathode oscillator emitting electrons in the outer radial direction were investigated through simulations and experiments. A coaxial vircator was compared with an axial vircator when the anode to cathode distance of both vircators was 6 mm. The proposed coaxial vircator was operated when the anode to cathode distance was 5 mm, 6 mm, and 7 mm. The peak power and frequency of the microwave generated from the proposed coaxial vircator when the anode to cathode distance was 6 mm were 20.18 MW and 6.17 GHz, respectively. The simulations and experiments show that the proposed coaxial vircator generates 80% more microwave power than the axial vircator with the same anode to cathode distance. According to the simulations and experiments, the proposed coaxial vircator tends to generate a higher power average when the anode to cathode distance was larger than 5 mm. The frequency of the proposed coaxial vircator when the anode to cathode distance was 5 mm and 7 mm was approximately 8 GHz and 5 GHz, respectively. The geometric factor of the proposed coaxial vircator was considered to be the reason for the greater microwave power generation than the axial vircator. The frequency of the proposed coaxial vircator decreases inversely proportional with the anode to cathode distance as observed in the axial and basic coaxial vircators. Full article
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Review

Jump to: Research

39 pages, 9822 KiB  
Review
Quasi-Optical Theory of Relativistic Cherenkov Oscillators and Amplifiers with Oversized Electrodynamic Structures
by Andrey Malkin, Naum Ginzburg, Vladislav Zaslavsky, Ilya Zheleznov and Alexander Sergeev
Electronics 2022, 11(8), 1197; https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics11081197 - 9 Apr 2022
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 1620
Abstract
Using the quasi-optical approach, we investigate wave propagation along the periodically corrugated surfaces and their interaction with rectilinear relativistic electron beams (REBs). At the periodical structure, the field can be expanded into a series of spatial harmonics, which, in the case of shallow [...] Read more.
Using the quasi-optical approach, we investigate wave propagation along the periodically corrugated surfaces and their interaction with rectilinear relativistic electron beams (REBs). At the periodical structure, the field can be expanded into a series of spatial harmonics, which, in the case of shallow corrugations, represent paraxial wavebeams with mutual coupling described within the method of effective surface magnetic currents. We present the dispersion equation for the normal waves. Two limit cases can be recognized: in the first one, the frequency is far from the Bragg resonance and the wave propagation can be described within the impedance approximation with the field presented as a sum of the fundamental slow wave and its spatial harmonics. In the interaction with a rectilinear REB, this corresponds to the convective instability of particles’ synchronism with the fundamental (0th) or higher spatial harmonics (TWT regime), or the absolute instability in the case of synchronism with the −1st harmonic of the backward wave (BWO regime). In the latter case, at the frequencies close to the Bragg resonance, the field is presented as two antiparallel quasi-optical wavebeams, leading to the absolute instability used in the surface-wave oscillators operating in the π-mode regime. Based on the developed theory, we determine the main characteristics of relativistic Cherenkov amplifiers and oscillators with oversized electrodynamical systems. We demonstrate the prospects for the practical implementation of relativistic surface-wave devices in submillimeter wavebands. Full article
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