Comprehensive approach for diagnosing intense single‐pulse microwave sources

A comprehensive approach to developing intense pulse microwave diagnostics for measuring the performance of a high‐power microwave source is presented. Both conventional and new diagnostic techniques were used. Hence all measurements were made in a redundant fashion allowing small error bars in the measured data. The output power was diagnosed using four methods: two transmitting–receiving systems, two circular waveguide directional couplers, calorimetry, and gaseous breakdown. The operating frequency was measured using three methods: bandpass filters, a heterodyne receiver, and a homodyne receiver. The diagnostics were evaluated by using a 12‐vane S‐band inverted relativistic magnetron operating at 1 MV, 0.31 T, and 5 kA which reliably produced 3.15‐GHz microwaves at powers of approximately 100 MW for pulse lengths variable from 5 to 70 ns. The microwave power pulse had a rise time of approximately 2 ns.