Simulation of Ping-Pong Multipactor with Continuous Electron Seeding

Multipactor is a discharge induced by the impact of electrons on a surface due to radio-frequency (RF) electromagnetic fields and secondary electron emission (SEE). Depending on the impact energy and RF phase of the incident electron, a growth in the electron density is possible. Multipactor can lead to device breakdown in many applications, such as particle accelerator structures and rf systems, satellite communication equipment, and microwave components. Multipactor can also be a precursor for electron cloud effects. Due to the critical need to mitigate multipactor, a more comprehensive theory has been introduced that views multipactor as a global effect that can be analyzed through the concepts of iterative maps and nonlinear dynamics *. In order to test this novel approach, multipactor is simulated in a parallel-plate waveguide using the WARP particle-in-cell code. Different parameters are varied in the simulation to determine the conditions that add to multipactor growth, such as geometry dimensions, electron seeding scenarios, and an applied DC electric field. These computational results and their implications on the further development of this theory will be presented.
Proceedings of the North American Particle Accelerator Conf., NAPAC2016, Chicago, IL, USA