Abstract
Detailed experimental results from the first free-electron maser experiment to use a pseudospark-based electron beam are presented in this paper. These include the design and realization of a pseudospark-based electron beam source and Cherenkov maser experiment. A pulsed, 70-80 kV, 10 A electron beam was obtained from the hollow cathode discharge phase of an 8-gap pseudospark (PS) discharge. The beam was used to produce coherent microwave radiation via a Cherenkov interaction between the electron beam and the TM01 mode of a 60-cm long alumina-lined waveguide. A gain of 29+/-3 dB was measured and an output power of 2+/-0.2 kW in the frequency range 25.5-28.6 GHz. Results from numerical simulations of the Cherenkov amplification are also presented and found to be consistent with the experimental results.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 5195-5205 |
Number of pages | 11 |
Journal | Physics of Plasmas |
Volume | 7 |
Issue number | 12 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 31 Dec 2000 |
Keywords
- hollow-cathode discharge
- emission
- radiation
- microwave
- space