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Session RP1 - Poster Session VIII.
POSTER session, Thursday afternoon, October 30
Fran Hill Southeast Exhibit Hall, ACC

[RP1.069] Mode Control, RF Breakdown and Innovative Cathodes in Long-Pulse, Relativistic Magnetron Experiments

M.R. Lopez, R. M. Gilgenbach, W.M. White, M.C. Jones, Y.Y. Lau (Intense Energy Interaction Laboratory, Dept. of Nuclear Engineering and Radiological Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109), T.A. Spencer, M.D. Haworth, K. Cartwright, P.J. Mardahl, T. Murphy (Air Force Research Laboratory, Kirtland AFB, NM), J.W. Luginsland (SAIC), D. Price (Titan Pulse Sciences, CA)

Research is underway on a 6-vane, Titan relativistic magnetron powered by MELBA-C (Ceramic insulator) at parameters: V = -0.3 MV, I = 1-10 kA, and \tau = 0.5 \mus at 10^-7 Torr. This experiment has generated peak microwave power levels of 300-500 MW near 1 GHz. Time-Frequency Analysis (TFA) indicates mode competition between pi mode and 2/3 pi mode during operation. Experiments to investigate the effect of extractor symmetry on mode competition have utilized two vs three waveguides distributed symmetrically on the magnetron structure. In agreement with AFRL simulations three-fold symmetry tends to improve pi mode operation. Ongoing research involves efforts to prime this device with a MW magnetron source. RF breakdown has been observed in a window/waveguide system filled with atmospheric pressure air. Microwave power and pulselength are both increased with SF6 fill gas. Innovative, new, high-current cathodes are being explored utilizing laser-ablation.

* Research supported by AFOSR and AFRL.

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