Modeling of Reflex Triode Virtual Cathode Oscillator

An investigation of the reflex triode virtual cathode oscillator based on simulations with 3-D particle-in-cell code developed by ATK Mission Systems is done. The device model is based on an actual experimental setup with 15-mm anode–cathode gap. The obtained simulation results use a single-shot 200-kV, 300-ns pulse at anode. Numerical analysis is done to validate the results and to gain insight into the dynamics of the electrons emitted from the cathode surface and their movement between the cathode and the virtual cathode. The obtained single dominant microwave frequency for the model is 2.35 GHz with virtually no competing frequencies.