PIC Simulation and Analysis of an Axial Vircator Using MAGIC: Electromagnetics and Plasma Application

The virtual cathode oscillator (vircator) is a high power microwave (HPM) source capable of generating microwaves of high power and frequency. This book describes the Particle-In-Cell(PIC) simulation and analysis of an axial vircator using a three dimensional PIC code - MAGIC which is based on the Finite Difference Time Domain(FDTD) and PIC techniques. It is an electromagnetic specific code involving space charge interactions. The axial vircator has been designed for a high pulsed power system that acts as a source of intense relativistic electron beam(IREB). The IREB used is typically of 200kV, 100ns. With changing anode-cathode (AK) gap, proportionality of HPM output frequency and HPM output power with AK gap was established respectively. As the IREB voltage levels were changed and the space charge limited current was observed, it was proved that the space charge limited current is dependent on the IREB voltage. On using different metals for the anode mesh, it was observed that copper is ideally suited for the anode mesh of an axial vircator. As the cathode radius was varied, the Child-Langmuir current was observed to vary as the square of the radius of the emitter area.