Oversized interference switches of active resonant microwave compressors

Interference switches of resonant microwave compressors made of single mode waveguides provide high coupling factors after switching and rapid energy extraction. The disadvantage of these switches is low electrical strength which limits output power values. Oversized waveguides maintain higher electrical strength due to large dimensions of a cross section but mode transformation disturbs the regular operation of the switch. Operation of interference switches with a gaseous discharge gap as a switching element in oversized rectangular waveguides was studied experimentally. Conditions of their effective switching in active resonant microwave compressors were derived. It was shown that the stable microwave pulses of gigawatt power level in S-band and pulses of 0.1 GW pulse power in X- band can be produced in resonant microwave compressors with oversized interference switches. Possible switch designs are discussed.