Microwave Generators of Chaotic Oscillations Based on the Beam with Virtual Cathode

This paper presents the results of theoretical and experimental investigations of perspective vacuum sources of wideband chaotic oscillations of microwave range based on intensive nonrelativistic electron beams with a virtual cathode. In this paper we review the perspective microwave generators with different value of output power: (I) low-powered generators with wideband chaotic spectra using the additional retarding electrical field for braking the electron beam, (II) middle-powered generators using the virtual cathode oscillations formed in a collector area of traveling wave tube, (III) high-powered devices based on a nonrelativistic electron beam with a virtual cathode.

Investigations showed that different devices with non-relativistic electron beam with a virtual cathode can be used as sources of wideband chaotic oscillations with different values of output power over a wide frequency range.