Relativistic carcinotron with a thermionic injector of electrons

An experimental study directed to the determination of a mechanism for microwave breakdown in a relativistic X-band carcinatron is presented. An electron beam was generated using a thermionic cathode, which provided a stable beam geometry. The use of this cathode decreased the probability of breakdown caused by electron bombardment of the slow-wave structure. An important part played in microwave breakdown are molecules absorbed on the slow-wave structure surface. It is shown that the presence of these molecules, an implementation of conditions for secondary-electron resonant discharge (SERD), can result in a very fast (during 10-20 ns) limitation of the radiation pulsewidth. To remove the adsorbed molecules, heat degassing of the slow-wave structure and a collector of electrons was applied, going on continuously, during a working day of the device. By degassing and choice of slow-wave structure material, output radiation power of the device was increased by a factor of ten (up to 5 MW at the pulsewidth of 10 /spl mu/s).