The research article of the Krasik Plasma Group, was selected as "Editor's Choice”

Prof. Krasik’s group, supported by a research grant from the Office of Naval Research of the US Navy, developed a novel X-band (9 GHz) relativistic magnetron with diffraction output producing nanosecond timescale pulses of microwaves with power >100 MW. This is the second publication in a series of publications on this subject which receives Editor’s choice.

Like in a conventional magnetron, the energy contained in energetic electrons is converted into microwave radiation, only that in the present device, the accelerating pulsed voltage is hundreds of kV and the electrons are relativistic. The required wavelength of ~3 mm prescribes small dimensions of a slow wave structure in which it is a challenge to control the dynamics of the electron beam space charge. The experimental work was based on theory and sophisticated simulations which revealed novel electron dynamical features not seen before.

The pictures below: The anode block of the relativistic magnetron with 8 vanes stretching out into its diffraction output antenna (left), and the magnetron attached to its power generator, a linear induction electron accelerator (right).