Effects of the Mesh Anode Transparency on the Operation Characteristics of the Virtual Cathode Oscillator

An axial virtual cathode oscillator is experimentally analyzed depending on the transparency of the mesh anode. The axial virtual cathode oscillator is operated using a 140J/-170kV Marx generator. A stainless steel cathode and stainless steel mesh anodes with different transparency is used as a high power microwave generating diode. The gap distance of the virtual cathode diode is 4 mm. To analyze the operation characteristics depending on the mesh anode transparency, the output power, voltage, and current are measured.