Influence of Plasma Unsteadiness on the Spectrum and Shape of Microwave Pulses in a Plasma Relativistic Microwave Amplifier

Journal Article · Thu Feb 15 04:00:00 EST 2018 · Plasma Physics Reports

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1134/S1063780X1802006X· OSTI ID:22763294

Strelkov, P. S. ^[1]; Tarakanov, V. P. ^[2]

---

1. Russian Academy of Sciences, Prokhorov General Physics Institute (Russian Federation)
2. Russian Academy of Sciences, Joint Institute for High Temperatures (Russian Federation)

Dependence of the shape of a microwave pulse in a plasma relativistic microwave amplifier (PRMA) on the initial plasma electron density in the system is detected experimentally. Depending on the plasma density, fast disruption of amplification, stable operation of the amplifier during the relativistic electron beam (REB) pulse, and its delayed actuation can take place. A reduction in the output signal frequency relative to the input frequency is observed experimentally. The change in the shape of the microwave signal and the reduction in its frequency are explained by a decrease in the plasma density in the system. The dynamics of the plasma density during the REB pulse is determined qualitatively from the experimental data by using the linear theory of a PRMA with a thin-wall hollow electron beam. The processes in a PRMA are analyzed by means of the KARAT particle-in-cell code. It is shown that REB injection is accompanied by an increase in the mean energy of plasma electrons and a significant decrease in their density.

• OSTI ID: 22763294
• Journal Information: Plasma Physics Reports, Journal Name: Plasma Physics Reports Journal Issue: 2 Vol. 44; ISSN PPHREM; ISSN 1063-780X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ELECTRON BEAMS
ELECTRON DENSITY
MICROWAVE AMPLIFIERS
MICROWAVE RADIATION
PLASMA DENSITY
PULSES
RELATIVISTIC RANGE