3D Simulation of an L-Band A6 Relativistic Magnetron and Comparison with Experiment*

The 3D particle-in-cell (PIC) code, ICEPIC[1], is used to simulate the A6 relativistic magnetron experiment[2] at the University of Michigan. The purpose is to benchmark the code with experimental data and to obtain insight into the tube physics. Our simulations replicate the nearly 150 MW extracted into each arm of the 180-degree extraction scheme, but only when the entire cathode region under the anode block is allowed to emit electrons. In addition, we observe the same 100-ns delay in the onset of the microwave pulse seen in the experiment and an operating frequency of around 1 GHz. The simulations indicate substantial mode competition, with the highest power coming from the 2pi/3 mode rather than the desired pi mode. *This work was supported in part by the Air Force Office of Scientific Research. 1. R. Peterkin and J. Luginsland, Comput. Sci. Eng. 4, 42 (2002). 2. M. R. Lopez et al., IEEE Trans. Plasma Sci. 30, (June 2002).