Modeling of dielectric window breakdown in high-power microwave
systems

H. C. Kim (UCB-NE)

Plasma breakdown at dielectric windows in the output of high power
microwave systems has become an important challenge with the advent of
GW power level sources. The modeling and simulations have played a
crucial role in understanding the physics of plasma breakdown. In this
work, we report a number of recent advances which have significantly
improved understanding of the physics of vacuum multipactors, gaseous
discharges driven by microwaves, and the transition from one regime to
the other by varying the gas pressure.