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The breakdown problem in the relativistic backward wave oscillator (RBWO) limits the microwave pulse energy and should be solved. The slow wave structure (SWS) is the most key component of the RBWO. The breakdown of SWS may be triggered by field-induced electron emission and electron bombardment on the wall. This paper demonstrates that the space charge field of the relativistic electron beam (REB) can enhance the electric field forbidding field-induced electron emission and decrease the electric field igniting the RF breakdown, and therefore, the RF breakdown can be significantly suppressed. However, the enhanced electric field will enlarge the radial displacements of electrons, especially the high-energy electrons. When the RBWO operates with a low guiding magnetic field or a long-pulse REB, this situation will worsen and some electrons may possess large enough radial displacements and bombard on the SWS surface with the help of radial oscillation of REB and radial expansion of cathode plasmas. This may aggravate the breakdown of SWS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the repetitive experiments of relativistic backward wave oscillators operating at either low or high magnetic field, we found that the spiral traces appeared on the surfaces of the tube heads (entrance to the reflector and slow wave structure). Three possible causes: electrons emitted from the cathode base, cathode plasma, and cathode negative ion, are analyzed. Among them, the cathode negative ion is the most likely factor leading to the traces. The negative ions are generated by electron impact-ionization and ion impact-ionization of molecules that are desorbed from the cathode by the Ohmic heating of explosive electron emission. Due to the larger mass of negative ion, it cannot be restricted effectively by the magnetic field and will basically move along the electric field line. Many negative ions bombard the tube head with a Larmor radius of several centimeters, and the traces are connected to form spiral lines. The viewpoint of cathode negative ion current is further confirmed by the comparative experiments that show that a graphite cathode after being immersed in water for 12 h results in heavier traces, while a larger anode and cathode gap leads to slighter traces. Some suggestions are provided to reduce the production and the effect of cathode negative ion current. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper provides a fresh insight into the effect of non-uniform slow wave structure (SWS) used in a relativistic backward wave oscillator (RBWO) with a resonant reflector. Compared with the uniform SWS, the reflection coefficient of the non-uniform SWS is higher, leading to a lower modulating electric field in the resonant reflector and a larger distance to maximize the modulation current. Moreover, for both types of RBWOs, stronger standing-wave field takes place at the rear part of the SWS. In addition, besides Cerenkov effects, the energy conversion process in the RBWO strongly depends on transit time effects. Thus, the matching condition between the distributions of harmonic current and standing wave field provides a profound influence on the beam-wave interaction. In the non-uniform RBWO, the region with a stronger standing wave field corresponds to a higher fundamental harmonic current distribution. Particle-in-cell simulations show that with a diode voltage of 1.02 MV and beam current of 13.2 kA, a microwave power of 4 GW has been obtained, compared to that of 3 GW in the uniform RBWO. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]