Study of virpertron — Vircator with dielectric inserts

We propose a novel approach for the design of virtual cathode oscillator in this work. As a new concept, we suggest the microwave system containing annular relativistic electron beam travelling through the drift space with dielectric inserts characterized by different values of permittivity. In this case, virtual cathode which is the source of powerful electromagnetic oscillations forms at the junction of different dielectric materials. According to the mechanism of virtual cathode formation, we have called this device as “virpertron”. We have carried out the detailed numerical investigation of virtual cathode formation features in this system via 3D electromagnetic PIC-simulation. We have also studied the spectral properties of the microwave radiation generated by virpertron.