Lengthy virtual cathode as key to repetitive operation of relativistic magnetrons

Abstract

We recently proposed replacing a physical cathode in a relativistic magnetron with diffraction output with a virtual cathode. An electron beam is injected into the relativistic magnetron from a cathode located external to the interaction space. The geometry of both the electron beam injector and the magnetron interaction space were optimized to produce a virtual cathode from which electron spoke formation originates. This paper discusses how the length of such a virtual cathode can be optimized.