Virtual Prototyping of Directed Energy Weapons

Abstract

This paper gives an overview of how RF systems, from pulsed power to antennas, can be virtually prototyped with the ICEPIC (Improved Concurrent Electromagnetic Particle-in-Cell) code. ICEPIC simulates from first principles (Maxwell's equations and Lorenz's force law) the electrodynamics and charged particle dynamics of the RF-producing part of the system. Our simulations focus on gigawatt-class sources; the relativistic magnetron is shown as an example. Such simulations require enormous computational resources. These simulations successfully expose undesirable features of these sources and help us to suggest improvements.