A High-Efficiency Megawatt-Class Nonrelativistic Magnetron

Numerical simulations of a prototype conventional magnetron capable of an RF output power exceeding 1.3 MW at peak efficiency greater than 87% for relatively low diode voltages of ~ 40 kV are presented. Virtual prototyping of the magnetron design is carried out on massively parallel architecture uti...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:IEEE transactions on plasma science 2012-09, Vol.40 (9), p.2112-2118
Main Authors: Fleming, T. P., Lambrecht, M. R., Mardahl, P. J., Keisling, J. D.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Anodes
Cathodes
Conventional magnetron
Electric currents
Electromagnetics
Electrons
high-power microwave
Magnetic fields
Magnetic resonance
Magnetic resonance imaging
Magnetomechanical effects
mode competition
Radio frequency
Saturation magnetization
Simulation
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Numerical simulations of a prototype conventional magnetron capable of an RF output power exceeding 1.3 MW at peak efficiency greater than 87% for relatively low diode voltages of ~ 40 kV are presented. Virtual prototyping of the magnetron design is carried out on massively parallel architecture utilizing the 3-D improved concurrent electromagnetic particle-in-cell code. Simulations demonstrate that the magnetron is capable of stable and robust oscillations in the π mode at saturation with negligible mode competition at 912 MHz over a range of magnetic fields extending from B = 0.18 T to B = 0.275 T and voltages ranging from 37-56 kV. RF Output power ranged from 400 kW-1.5 MW over these voltages with efficiencies typically above 85%. Oscillations in the π mode follow the Buneman-Hartree resonance curve for all magnetic fields sampled with a window of π-mode oscillations typically extending over 6 kV. Electron back bombardment of the cathode as well as collisions with the slow wave structure acted as major loss mechanisms.
ISSN:0093-3813
1939-9375
DOI:10.1109/TPS.2012.2205274