Exploration of State-of-the-Art High Power Microwave Sources and Cathodes for Neutralization
Abstract
Use modeling and simulation tools to guide the design ofcandidate narrowband high power microwave (HPM) through virtual prototyping. In addition, a new research area for this team seeks to collaborate with DFT (density function theory) experts to come up with a new cold cathode material design paradigm. Experiments, where feasible, will be used to baseline the virtual prototyping results and test the new cathode designs. This proposal seeks support beginning 15 February 2016 for a basic (6.1) research program focused on the enhancement of the performance of narrowband high power microwave (HPM) sources for remote improvised explosive device neutralization. Directed energy microwaves offer the ability to provide considerable energy onto a target (the detonator) at the speed-of-light with standoff (at least 50 m). The University of New Mexico (UNM), led by Distinguished Professor Edl Schamiloglu, has been performing basic research in the area of narrowband directed energy microwave source research since 1990. The UNM group has expertise in the design of relativistic magnetrons, backward-wave oscillators, and related technologies. The group has published 5 patents pertaining to relativistic magnetrons since 2010. The hallmark of UNM’s technical approach has been to perform comprehensive virtual prototyping simulations using the MAGIC particle-in-cell code (supplemented by ICEPIC and CST Particle Studio) and then validating those simulation results using experiments. For this proposal UNM also can use the recently licensed LSP parallelized particle-in-cell code. LSP has the advantage that it also has hybrid fluid/kinetic models to address surface plasmas and their evolution during a particle-in-cell calculation. UNM proposes to research metamaterial multispectral sources, the simplest ubitron, a MILO testbed, and cold cathodes using density functional theory. Details are provided in the technical proposal.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Nov 23, 2016
- Source ID
- N000141612352
Entities
People
- Edl Schamiloglu
Organizations
- Office of Naval Research
- United States Navy
- University of New Mexico