Advancing High Power Microwave Sources and Antennas to Higher Frequencies+

The University of New Mexico (UNM) group has been a leader in advancing intense beam-driven high-power microwave (HPM) sources [1] through analytical theory, particle-in-cell (PIC) simulations, and experiments. Our group in the past has developed high power sources at L-band, S-band, X-band (for AFOSR and ONR), and even E-band (DARPA) generating at least 100 MW output power. The present focus of our research is to investigate HPM source concepts from X-to-Ka-band. We first performed a comprehensive literature search to identify the most promising path forward. We are in the process of downselecting our choice. In addition to source development, high-power antennas in the X-to-Ka-band pose significant challenges as the dimensions of the apertures are smaller yet need to radiate the very intense power levels.