Enhancement of the electric field threshold for microwave breakdown by crossed magnetic field

The enhancement of breakdown threshold is of benefit to the high power microwave transmission. We propose a magnetic field in the transverse direction to the electric field to enhance the breakdown threshold. A theory of electric field threshold with crossed magnetic field for short pulse is developed, and verified by particle-in-cell/Monte Carlo collision (PIC/MCC) simulations. The result shows that the crossed magnetic field can enhance the breakdown threshold significantly.