Simulations of magnetic priming in a relativistic magnetron

Two-dimensional simulations have been performed on a six-vane relativistic magnetron with uniform axial magnetic fields versus azimuthally varying axial magnetic fields, defined as magnetic priming. Electron phase-space plots show rapid growth of the /spl pi/-mode when the axial magnetic field has three-azimuthal perturbations: it takes 36 ns for the /spl pi/-mode to dominate in the uniform magnetic field case versus only 13 ns for the /spl pi/-mode to dominate in the case with magnetic priming imposed. RF electric field plots versus time show the suppression of the 2/spl pi//3-mode when magnetic priming is imposed.