Research
High power microwave, Millimetre wave, Magnetron, Plasma heating, Fusion energy
Interests
My research is focused on high-power microwave and millimetre wave with applications in nuclear fusion, as well as the applications of THz/optical spectroscopy in astrochemistry. My group is committed to the acceleration of commercial nuclear fusion by developing compact, cost-effective, and commercially scalable high-power microwave and millimetre-wave sources (magnetrons, etc.) capable of heating fusion plasmas to 100 million degrees Celsius - the temperature required for nuclear fusion to occur. I have a strong history of collaboration with the UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA), particularly on the development of high-power millimetre-wave sources and superconducting quench-detection systems for the Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production (STEP) project. I am passionate about connecting academia and industry to turn fusion from a scientific challenge into a commercial reality.
I have also been working on laboratory studies on formation and evolution of prebiotic molecules in the universe by performing complementary novel laboratory experiments at larger facilities, including the free-electron laser FELIX Laboratory in the Netherlands, the synchrotron radiation source ASTRID in Denmark, etc.
Publications
Publications of specific relevance to the Centre for Electronics
2025
Gas Properties Studies Using Reflectometry: First Steps Towards Real Time Cooling Gas Temperature Monitoring in Superconducting MagnetsFernndez-Serracanta O Chouhan S Konoplev IV Zhang J Chen X Yang Y Zhang M
IEEE Transactions on Applied Superconductivity,
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) vol. 36 (3), 1-5.
11-11-2025 Fast quench detection via coolant-gas-temperature monitoring of a high-temperature superconducting magnetFernández-Serracanta O Konoplev IV Chouhan S Zhang H Zhang J Yang Y Chen X Zhang M
Physical Review Applied,
American Physical Society (Aps) vol. 24 (5)
01-11-2025 
Relaying Pulsed Millimeter Wave Magnetrons for Fusion Plasma HeatingZhang J Dang W Chen X
2025 18th IEEE United Conference on Millimeter Waves and Terahertz Technologies (UCMMT). vol. Volume1, 1-3.
28-08-2025Millimetre Waves Time and Frequency Domain Reflectometry for Quench Monitoring in Superconducting MagnetsKonoplev IV Fernández-Serracanta O Chouhan S Horvat A Zhang J Zhang H Chen X Zhang M
2025 50th International Conference on Infrared, Millimeter, and Terahertz Waves (IRMMW-THz). vol. 00, 1-2.
22-08-2025 Relaying Pulsed Magnetrons for Continuous Wave (CW) Operation in Fusion Plasma HeatingZhang J Chen X
2025 IEEE Pulsed Power & Plasma Science (PPPS). vol. 00, 1-1.
20-06-2025 Design and Thermal Analysis of 0.2-MW High-Efficiency W-Band Magnetron with Axially Extended Interaction SpaceZhang J Chen X
2025 26th International Vacuum Electronics Conference (IVEC). vol. 00, 1-2.
17-04-2025 A Quad-Spiral Element with a Reconfigurable Direction of Radiation for Wide-Angle Steerable Vector Phased ArrayNasser N Dang W Nourinovin S Zhang J Shu C Brown AK Collins B Chen X
2025 19th European Conference on Antennas and Propagation (EuCAP). vol. 00, 1-5.
04-04-2025 2024
Upgraded Design of a 0.5-MW High-Power W-Band Magnetron with Axial Output StructureZhang J Chen X
2024 17th United Conference on Millemetre Waves and Terahertz Technologies (UCMMT). vol. 00, 5-8.
23-08-2024 A systematic IR and VUV spectroscopic investigation of ion, electron, and thermally processed ethanolamine iceZhang J Muiña AT Mifsud DV Kaňuchová Z Cielinska K Herczku P Rahul KK Kovács STS et al.
Monthly Notices of The Royal Astronomical Society,
Oxford University Press (OUP) vol. 533 (1), 826-840.
01-08-2024 A Digital Beamforming Antenna for Space Based Solar Power Transmitting ArrayQian L Zhang J Shu C Nasser N Collins B Chen X
2024 18th European Conference on Antennas and Propagation (EuCAP). vol. 00, 1-4.
22-03-2024 2023
Effect of Nonuniform Electron Beam Generated by Electron Gun on Output Performance of Helix TWTWang J Shen C Zhang J Fan H Bai N Sun X
2023 24th International Vacuum Electronics Conference (IVEC). vol. 00, 1-3.
28-04-2023 Design of a High-Power W-band Rising-Sun Spatial Harmonic Magnetron for Fusion Power GenerationZhang J Zhang T Chen X
2023 24th International Vacuum Electronics Conference (IVEC). vol. 00, 1-2.
28-04-2023 Resonant infrared irradiation of CO and CH3OH interstellar icesSantos JC Chuang K-J Schrauwen JGM Muiña AT Zhang J Cuppen HM Redlich B Linnartz H et al.
Astronomy & Astrophysics,
Edp Sciences vol. 672
01-04-2023 Resonant infrared irradiation of CO and CH3OH interstellar icesSantos JC Chuang K-J Schrauwen JGM Muiña AT Zhang J Cuppen HM Redlich B Linnartz H et al.
In
Arxiv 22-02-2023 Design and Simulation of a High-Power Millimetre-Wave Rising-Sun Magnetron for Plasma HeatingZhang J Zhang T Chen X
2023 16th UK-Europe-China Workshop on Millimetre Waves and Terahertz Technologies (UCMMT). vol. 1, 1-1.
03-01-2023 Infrared photodesorption of CO from astrophysically relevant ices studied with a free-electron laserIngman ER Laurinavicius D Zhang J Schrauwen JGM Redlich B Noble JA Ioppolo S McCoustra MRS et al.
Faraday Discussions,
Royal Society of Chemistry (Rsc) vol. 245, 446-466.
01-01-2023 2022
Design of a W-band Sheet-beam Extended Interaction OscillatorZhang T Zhang J
2022 15th UK-Europe-China Workshop on Millimetre-Waves and Terahertz Technologies (UCMMT). vol. 00, 1-2.
18-10-2022 Simulation of pseudospark discharge and the transportation of the generated electron beamZhang L Phelps ADR Cross AW Zhang J Chen X
2022 15th UK-Europe-China Workshop on Millimetre-Waves and Terahertz Technologies (UCMMT). vol. 00, 1-2.
18-10-2022 Design and Simulation of a W-band Rising-Sun Spatial Harmonic MagnetronZhang J Zhang T Chen X
2022 15th UK-Europe-China Workshop on Millimetre-Waves and Terahertz Technologies (UCMMT). vol. 00, 1-3.
18-10-2022 Design, Simulation, and Cold Test of a W-Band Double Nonparallel Staggered Grating Backward Wave OscillatorZhang J Alfadhl Y Chen X Zhang L Cross AW
IEEE Transactions on Electron Devices,
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) vol. 69 (10), 5814-5818.
05-08-2022 A Novel Helical Slow-Wave Structure of a TWT With Increased Number of Helix-Support Rods for the Suppression of BWO Caused by Thermal DeformationShen C Wang J Zhang J Feng J Sun X
IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science,
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) vol. 50 (9), 2830-2837.
12-07-2022 Microwave Exposure System on Cell Solution for Alzheimer's Disease TreatmentYang Y Zhang J Rao X Dang W Alfadhl Y Chen X
2022 IEEE MTT-S International Microwave Biomedical Conference (IMBioC). vol. 00, 135-137.
18-05-2022 A Rising-Sun Anode Magnetron With Axial Waveguide Output in W-BandZhang T Chen X Zhang J
IEEE Transactions on Electron Devices,
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) vol. 69 (6), 3413-3418.
05-05-2022 2021
Pseudospark-sourced beam and its application in high-power millimeter-wave generationZhang L Yin H He W Chen X Zhang J Cross A
Scientific Reports,
Springer Nature vol. 11 (1)
24-09-2021 Characteristics of Pseudospark Discharge in Particle-in-Cell SimulationsZhang L He W Chen X Zhang J Cross AW
IEEE Transactions on Electron Devices,
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) vol. 68 (6), 3003-3009.
30-04-2021 Characteristics of Pseudospark-Sourced Beam and its Application in THZ SourcesZhang L Ronald K Phelps ADR Cross AW Zhang J Chen X Xie J
2021 IEEE International Conference on Plasma Science (ICOPS). vol. 00, 1-1.
16-01-2021 Simulations of pseudospark discharge and its generated beam to drive a THz EIOZhang L Phelps ADR Ronald K Cross AW Zhang J Chen X Xie J
2021 14th UK-Europe-China Workshop on Millimetre-Waves and Terahertz Technologies (UCMMT). vol. 00, 1-3.
15-01-2021 Design of Dual-Band High-Power Backward Wave Oscillator using Double Staggered Grating and Pseudospark-Sourced Sheet BeamZhang J Alfadhl Y Chen X Zhang L Cross AW
2021 14th UK-Europe-China Workshop on Millimetre-Waves and Terahertz Technologies (UCMMT). vol. 00, 1-3.
15-01-2021 2020
Extended Interaction Oscillator Driven by a Pseudospark-Sourced Beam at 0.4 THz**This work was supported by the U.K. EPSRC under Grant EP/S00968X/1 and Grant EP/S009582/1.Zhang L Ronald K Phelps ADR Cross AW Zhang J Chen X Xie J He W
2020 IEEE International Conference on Plasma Science (ICOPS). vol. 00, 227-227.
10-12-2020 Effect of Noisy Input Signal and Electron Beam Velocity Nonuniform on Helix TWT Output PerformanceShen C Zhang J Fan H Bai N Sun X
2020 IEEE 21st International Conference on Vacuum Electronics (IVEC). vol. 00, 213-214.
22-10-2020 Study on Wideband THz Backward Wave Oscillator Driven by Pseudospark-Sourced Sheet Electron BeamZhang J Zhang T Alfadhl Y Chen X Zhang L Yin H Cross AW
IEEE Transactions on Electron Devices vol. 67 (8), 3395-3402.
13-07-2020 Compact THz Extended Interaction Oscillator Driven by a Pseudospark-sourced beamZhang L Xie J He W Ronald K Phelps ADR Zhang J Chen X Cross AW
2020 13th UK-Europe-China Workshop on Millimetre-Waves and Terahertz Technologies (UCMMT). vol. 00, 1-3.
01-01-2020 2019
Study of a 0.35 THz Extended Interaction Oscillator Driven by a Pseudospark-Sourced Sheet Electron BeamXie J Zhang L Yin H He W Phelps ADR Ronald K Chen X Zhang J et al.
IEEE Transactions on Electron Devices,
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) vol. 67 (2), 652-658.
31-12-2019 Design of 0.365-THz Backward Wave Oscillator using Staggered Double Grating SWS and Sheet BeamZhang J Yin H Zhang T Alfadhl Y Chen X Cross A He W Xie J
2019 12th UK-Europe-China Workshop on Millimeter Waves and Terahertz Technologies (UCMMT). vol. 00, 1-3.
20-08-2019 Effects of Tolerance Fabrication of Extended Interaction Oscillator Based on Pseudospark-sourced Sheet Electron Beam at 0.35 THzXie J Yin H Zhang L Ronald K Phelps ADR He W Shu G Zhao J et al.
2019 12th UK-Europe-China Workshop on Millimeter Waves and Terahertz Technologies (UCMMT). vol. 00, 1-3.
20-08-2019 Experimental Testing of a W-band spatial harmonic magnetronZhang T Zhang J Lang J Chen X
2019 12th UK-Europe-China Workshop on Millimeter Waves and Terahertz Technologies (UCMMT). vol. 00, 1-3.
20-08-2019 Effect of Electron Beam Velocity Nonuniform on Helix TWT Output PerformanceShen C Bai N Zhang J Sun X Fan H
2019 International Vacuum Electronics Conference (IVEC). vol. 00, 1-2.
28-04-2019 Effect of Thermal Deformation on Thermal Contact Resistance Between Helix and Support Rods in Helix TWTWang J Zhang J Sun X
2019 International Vacuum Electronics Conference (IVEC). vol. 00, 1-2.
28-04-2019 A Novel Method for Testing the Inner Temperature of Helix TWT under Operation using FBGZhang J Zhang L Wang J Wang Y Sun X Feng J Hao B
2019 International Vacuum Electronics Conference (IVEC). vol. 00, 1-2.
28-04-2019 2018
Equivalent Multisector Analytical Method for High-Frequency Characteristics of Integrated Three-Helix TWTZhang J Yin Z Yuan H Fan H Bai N Shen C Zhao X Feng J et al.
IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science,
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) vol. 46 (5), 1747-1754.
23-04-2018 Impacts of an Embedded Fiber inside a Helix TWT on its PerformanceZhang J Wang J Sun X Heo B Zhang L Wang Y Feng J
2018 IEEE International Vacuum Electronics Conference (IVEC)., 341-342.
01-04-2018 Design of Ultra-Thin Dielectric Waveguide Meander Line for 850GHz Traveling Wave TubeWang L Bai N Zhang J Shen C Sun X Pan P Cai J Feng J
2018 IEEE International Vacuum Electronics Conference (IVEC)., 395-396.
01-04-2018 Performance Analysis for Segmented Multiple Support Rods Helix TWT Suppressing Thermal DeformationWang J Zhang J Wan S Sun X
2018 IEEE International Vacuum Electronics Conference (IVEC)., 127-128.
01-04-2018 Impact of Thermal State on Backward-Wave Oscillation in Helix TWT Under OperationZhang J Yuan H Wang Y Shen C Bai N Fan H Zhao X Feng J et al.
IEEE Transactions on Electron Devices,
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) vol. 65 (6), 2227-2235.
23-01-2018 Impact of radial deviation of electron beam on backward wave oscillation in helix TWTZhang J Yuan H Zhao X Bai N Shen C Fan H Sun X Chen B et al.
The Journal of Engineering,
Institution of Engineering and Technology (Iet) vol. 2018 (14), 686-688.
01-01-2018 2017
Full Thermal Analyses for Slow-Wave Structure in Helix-TWT Under OperationZhang J Yuan H Zhao X Bai N Shen C Fan H Sun X Chen B et al.
2017 Eighteenth International Vacuum Electronics Conference (IVEC)., 1-2.
01-04-2017 Accelerated Life Test Method for Storage Vacuum Electron Device Based on PressurizationYuan H Zhang J Shen C Bail N Fan H Zhao X Sun X Zhou J et al.
2017 Eighteenth International Vacuum Electronics Conference (IVEC)., 1-2.
01-04-2017 2016
Impacts of Cubic Boron Nitride (CBN) Support Rods on TWT PerformanceZhang J Wang F Yuan H Bai N Fan H Sun X Chen B Feng J et al.
2016 IEEE International Vacuum Electronics Conference (IVEC)., 1-2.
01-04-2016 Measurement Experiment of Residual Gas Inside Vacuum Electronic Devices Based on Rayleigh ScatteringYuan H Zhang J Zhou J Sheng X Bai N Fan H Zhao X Sun X
2016 IEEE International Vacuum Electronics Conference (IVEC)., 1-2.
01-04-2016 2015
Impact of FBG Array Embedded on/in Helix Support Rods on TWT PerformanceZhang J Wang F Yuan H Wei P Sun X Wang Y Chen B Feng J et al.
2015 IEEE International Vacuum Electronics Conference (IVEC)., 1-2.
01-04-2015 Mixture Gas Permeation Model for Stored VEDYuen H Zhang J Ouyang J Zhou J Sheng X Sun X
2015 IEEE International Vacuum Electronics Conference (IVEC)., 1-2.
01-04-2015
