NONLINEAR-THEORY OF A PLASMA MICROWAVE-OSCILLATOR USING CABLE WAVES

The nonstationary problem of excitation of a plasma microwave oscillat or of a finite length driven by a pulsed relativistic beam is analyzed . Both analytic and numerical techniques have been used in studying th e oscillator dynamics at given beam parameters (configuration, electro n energy, and current pulse), with different plasma configurations, an d at various lengths of the system. Oscillator characteristics such as the output power, efficiency, and output spectrum have been determine d at parameters close to real experimental values. Conditions of optim al oscillator operation have been determined. (C) 1997 American Instit ute of Physics.