LAUSR

Particle-in-cell (PIC) simulations using the MAGIC-3D code are performed to illustrate the beam–wave interaction behavior and the effects of pulse shortening in relativistic backward wave oscillator (RBWO) operating at a low guiding magnetic field. The causes of pulse-shortening phenomena such as beam degradation, high RF electric field breakdown, and collector plasma formation are studied in simulations. The PIC simulations of the RBWO operating at a low guiding magnetic field ~0.61 T including all the effects of pulse shortening predicted that an RF output power ~0.70 GW with operating frequency ~9.5 GHz and the power conversion efficiency ~21.3% will be shortened after ~63 ns of simulation time.