Plasma effects on electron beam dynamics in a virtual cathode oscillator

High-power microwave generation in an axially-extracted virtual cathode oscillator has been studied experimentally. The microwave emission of 1.2 GW at frequencies in the range of 15 GHz is observed in the presence of annular electron beam operated at a 330 kV and 20 kA. The electron beam current in the diode region is well characterized by the electron space-charge-limited current in bipolar flow, which is well below the critical current defined for diode pinching. The observed microwave emission is accompanied by the strongly pinched electron beam which is resulted from the formation anode plasma. Essential feature of such a pinching effect for the microwave generation is confirmed by the absence of emission when the pinch of electron beam is suppressed by the application of the axial magnetic field. (author)