Suppression of multipactor discharge on a dielectric surface by an external magnetic field

The multipactor discharge on a dielectric surface in an external magnetic field is simulated by using the particle-in-cell method, and the electron number, energy, the velocity of the yield of secondary electrons, and the power deposited on dielectric surface in the process of multipactor discharge are investigated. The effects of the strength of the external magnetic field on multipactor are studied. The results show that when the external magnetic field reaches a certain value, the multipactor is weaker than that in the case of no external magnetic field and becomes much lighter versus the strength of the external magnetic field in the half microwave period in which the E x B drift pulls the electrons back to dielectric surface. And in the other half microwave period in which the E x B drift pushes the electrons away from the dielectric surface, the multipactor is cut off. So the power capability can be increased to the fourfold by the suppression of multipactor by applying an external magnetic field. (C) 2011 American Institute of Physics. [doi: 10.1063/1.3602080]