title: Repetitive operation of an L-band magnetically insulated transmission line oscillator with metal array cathode.
abstract: We present the repetitive operation research results of an L-band magnetically insulated transmission line oscillator with metal array cathode (MAC-MILO) in this paper. To ensure a more uniform emission of electrons emitted from the cathode, metal plates with different outer radii and thicknesses are periodically arranged in longitudinal direction on the cathode substrate to act as emitters. The higher order mode depressed MILO (HDMILO) structure is applied to ensure stability of the tube. Comparison experiments are carried out between velvet cathode and MAC MILO driven by a 20 GW/40 Ω/40 ns/20 Hz pulse power system. Experimental results reveal that the MAC has much lower outgassing rate, much longer life time, and higher repetitive stability. The MAC-MILO could work stably with a rep-rate up to 20 Hz at a power level of 550 MW when employing a 350 kV/35 kA electric pulse. The TE11 mode radiation pattern in the farfield region reveals the tube works steadily on the dominant mode. More than 2000 shots have been tested in repetitive mode without any obvious degradation of the detected microwave parameters.
authors.affiliation: Graduate School, China Academy of Engineering Physics, Beijing 100088, China.
authors.forename: Fen
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Qin
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory on High Power Microwave Technology, Institute of Applied Electronics, China Academy of Engineering Physics, Mianyang 621900, China.
authors.forename: Dong
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory on High Power Microwave Technology, Institute of Applied Electronics, China Academy of Engineering Physics, Mianyang 621900, China.
authors.forename: Sha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory on High Power Microwave Technology, Institute of Applied Electronics, China Academy of Engineering Physics, Mianyang 621900, China.
authors.forename: Yong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Graduate School, China Academy of Engineering Physics, Beijing 100088, China.
authors.forename: Zhi-Kai
authors.initials: ZK
authors.lastname: Fan