Pulsed-power diode generation of high-power microwaves

The generation of microwave radiation at gigahertz frequencies in high-voltage pulsed-power diodes was investigated with electromagnetic particle simulations. Pulsed power in the form of a 0.5-1.0 MV, TEM wave is fed to the diode via a 5 cm diameter cylindrical stalk onto which a 30 cm diameter cathode was mounted. Located some 3 to 5 cm in front of the cathode is a foil anode grid. As the TEM wave propagates between the stalk and an outer cylindrical cage (70-cm diameter) a stream of electrons are emitted off the stalk when the local electric field exceeds 200 kV/cm. This flow is then magnetically insulated and confined by the induced B/sub theta/ fields resulting from the 25- to 50-kA current flow within the stalk. Convex shaping of the cathode surface allows the emitted electrons to form a virtual cathode beyond the grid, then phase bunch to produce narrow bandwidth 1-GHz microwaves over an area equal to that of the cathode. The electromagnetic radiation from the dipole-like electron motions centered on the grid, which follow closely the classical Barkhausen-Kurz description, are reported.