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Generation of 3 GW microwave pulses in X-band from a combination of a relativistic backward-wave oscillator and a helical-waveguide compressor

The phenomenon of passive compression of frequency-modulated pulses in a dispersive medium was used to increase the peak microwave power to the multigigawatt level. A 5-fold helically corrugated waveguide was used as the dispersive media, while a relativistic X-band backward wave oscillator, serving as a source of frequency modulate pulses, was used to demonstrate a route to achieve the world’s highest peak power at X-band frequencies. I was principal investigator of this research project, supervising the PhD student Michael McStravick as well as leading the UK team who achieved for the first time microwave pulse compression using a 5-fold helically corrugated waveguide.