Effect of external signal on the output power of an oscillator with electron feedback

The effect of an external single-frequency harmonic signal on the output power of an oscillator with electron feedback has been studied by analytical and numerical methods. It is established that an increase in the input signal power leads to sharp growth in the output power of the nonautonomous oscillator. Physical processes that take place in the electron beam with virtual cathode under the action of an external harmonic signal, which leads to velocity modulation in the electron beam entering the interaction space, have been analyzed. The obtained results well agree with the data of previous experimental investigations of the signal gain in a low-voltage vircator.