A multigigawatt X-Band relativistic backward wave oscillator with a modulating resonant reflector

Abstract

Effective generation regime with a high output pulse power has been experimentally realized in a relativistic backward wave oscillator (RBWO) with a resonant reflector and a slow-wave system having a diameter 1.6 times the radiation wavelength. At a guiding magnetic field of 4.5 T, the maximum peak power amounted to 4.3 GW at a frequency of 9.4 GHz, an efficiency of 31%, and a microwave pulse duration of 22 ns.