Magnetically insulated transmission line oscillator

A magnetically insulated transmission line microwave oscillator, comprising:

• an elongated cathode;
• anode structure comprising a first anode including slow-wave structures and a support for said slow-wave structures, said slow-wave structures comprising a plurality of thin conductive vanes arrayed as a family of parallel surfaces extending from said support towards said cathode, said vanes defining slow-wave cavities between said vanes;
• said cathode and first anode forming a gap therebetween and defining a low impedance transmission line;
• and
• pulsed power means, connected to said cathode and first anode, for producing field emitted electrons and an electric field in said gap, said electrons producing self-generated magnetic fields in a cross-field orientation with respect to the orientation of the electric field, only said cross-field magnetic fields insulating a flow of electrons in said gap and confining the flow of electrons within said gap;
• microwave energy being generated by an interaction of electrons parallel to said cathode with oscillating modes of said slow-wave cavities perpendicular to said cathode, said interaction producing intense electron bunching and microwave radiation.