Publications

Version: 1.2 Approved

LDO-ID 2020-05-15-01

Title VIRCATOR for Direct Microwave Energy Non-Lethal Weapon Systems

Abstract

VIRtual CAthode oscillaTOR is a microwave vacuum tube that is able to generate short-term microwave pulses at very high frequencies, so it is a High Power Microwave (HPM) source. This device is used in the Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP) weapons and in Direct Energy System for IED Detection and Non-Lethal EW for Counter Terrorism Operations and Low Intensity Warfare. Our idea is to use a planar diode, consisting of a field-emitting graphite cathode and a molybdenum gridded anode, transparent to the electrons (i.e. a few hundred microns thick grid), followed by a circular waveguide. In particular, the paper shows the study of a multi-anode solution, inserting more ‘reflectors’ inside the waveguide, to increase the efficiency of the axial Vircator. In particular in the configuration discussed in the paper, 3 reflectors has been added reaching a Peak power of 1.1 GW with 11% of efficiency until to X- band.

Authors Spatola Antonino, Giordano Emanuele, Mistretta Antonino, Di Maggio Francesco

Type Paper for Seminar/Symposium/Conference

Media EWCI 2020 - International Conference on Electronic Warfare (17-20, February 2020, Bangalore, India)

Web site

Anno 2020