Three-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations of rapid start-up in strapped oven magnetrons due to variation in the insulating magnetic field

A three-dimensional parallel particle-in-cell code, ICEPIC, is used to simulate the geometry and the magnetic field profiles of the recent low-noise, fast startup magnetron experiments at the University of Michigan. The fast startup, the power levels, and the starting currents that have been observed in these experiments are quantitatively reproduced in the simulations. The tendency for low noise operation has also been reproduced with the use of an azimuthally varying magnetic field.