Monte Carlo simulation of high power microwave window breakdown at atmospheric conditions

A Monte Carlo-type electron motion simulation program was developed to calculate the increasing electron density for pulsed high power microwave window flashover in air and nitrogen at atmospheric pressures, i.e., > 90 torr. Through comparison of experimental and simulated results several processes such as flashover delay time's strong dependence on pressure and the lack of significant surface charge buildup have been confirmed. The quantitative agreement of the code results with the experiment is a clear step towards predicting high power microwave flashover under a wide range of atmospheric conditions as well as for different gases and more complex window geometries. (c) 2006 American Institute of Physics.