Evidence of a new pulse-shortening mechanism in a load-limited MILO

Experimental evidence shows that the electron flow in a load-limited magnet ically insulated transmission line oscillator (MILO) is only partially magn etically insulated at the launch point, yet fully insulated along the downs tream slow-wave structure (SWS), This results in a microwave pulse duration substantially less than that of the beam. Computer simulations suggest tha t anode plasma formation is responsible for this pulse shortening and are a ble to replicate key features of the experimental data.