Dielectric-loaded wideband gyro-TWT

The bandwidth of a gyro-TWT (traveling-wave tube) can be widened by employing a dielectric-loaded waveguide to reduce the circuit's dispersion. Fast wave interaction allows the requirements on the beam's quality to be relaxed compared with slow wave interaction. A low-α (≡ν_⊥/ν_z) electron beam is chosen to avoid the absolute instability and minimize the possibility of dielectric charging. This device is investigated using a self-consistent single-mode, large-signal simulation based on a slow time scale formulation. Simulation results show that a constant drive bandwidth of 20% can be achieved for a 100 kV, 5 A electron beam with a velocity ratio of α=0.59 and an axial velocity spread of 2.0%. The growth rate is relatively low because of the low α of the electron beam. The design of a proof-of-principle experiment is described. The tube is expected to deliver a power of 80 kW from 9 to 11 GHz with 15% efficiency and a saturated gain of 30 dB. The performance of a single-anode magnetron injection gun designed to produce the required high-quality electron beam has been studied through simulation     

Stable high-power TE01 gyro-TWT amplifiers

The stability of high power gyro-TWT amplifiers operating in the low-loss TE₀₁ mode of cylindrical waveguide has been studied, Linear theory has been used to determine the threshold start-oscillation beam current for absolute instability in the operating mode and the critical section lengths for the dominant gyro-BWO interactions occurring at various cyclotron harmonics in other waveguide modes. The performance of the amplifier was evaluated with a nonlinear, self-consistent slow-timescale simulation code. Utilizing interaction sections whose lengths are less than the threshold start-oscillation length and are separated by attenuating severs for isolation, two stable three-section devices have been designed which are predicted to yield: (1) a peak output power of 230 kW at 35 GHz with an efficiency of 23%, a saturated gain of 46 dB and a constant-drive bandwidth of 6% for a 100 kV, 10 A electron beam with an α=ν_⊥ /ν_z =1.0 and an axial velocity spread Δν_z/ν_z=5% and (2) 105 kW at 94 GHz with 21% efficiency, 45 dB saturated gain and 5% constant-drive bandwidth for a similar 5 A electron beam. In addition, the design of the 0 dB input/output couplers and the MIG electron gun are given. Due to the low loss of the TE₀₁ mode, both of these amplifiers can be operated continuously     

High-power harmonic gyro-TWT's. II. Nonlinear theory and design

For pt.I, see ibid., vol.20, no.3, p.155-162 (1992). Based on an analytical study of the stability problems of gyrotron traveling wave amplifiers (gyro-TWTs), an extremely high power second-harmonic gyro-TWT has been designed, evaluated and optimized with a self-consistent nonlinear numerical simulation code. The design, which is based on the magnetron-injection-gun (MIG)-type beam, is presented. Using a 100 kV, 25 A MIG beam with α=1 and an axial velocity spread of 5%, nonlinear self-consistent analysis of a three-stage second-harmonic gyro-TWT amplifier predicts a peak output power of 533 kW, peak efficiency of 21.3% and a 7.4% saturated bandwidth, which verifies the theoretical predictions that a stable harmonic gyro-TWT can generate power levels an order of magnitude higher than those possible from a fundamental gyro-TWT. It is shown that the positioning of the electron beam is very important. A multistage structure is used to recover the loss in gain resulting from shortening the interaction sections to ensure stability     

Analysis of the deflection system for a magnetic-field-immersedmagnicon amplifier

A linear analysis of the electron-beam deflection system in a magnicon amplifier is presented. The system consists of identical cavities, one driven and the remainder passive, separated by a drift space and immersed in an axial magnetic field. The cavities contain a rotating TM₁₁₀ mode. The length of each cavity is πν _z/ω, and that of the drift space is πν_z/ω_c, where ω is the RF frequency, ω_c is the relativistic gyrofrequency in the guide field, and ν_z is the mean axial velocity of the beam electrons. The linearized electron orbits are obtained for arbitrary initial axial velocity, radial coordinate, and magnetic field. The small-signal gain and the phase shift are determined. The special case where ω_c/ω=2 has unique features and is discussed in detail. For the NRL magnicon design, a power gain of 10 dB per passive cavity is feasible. Results from numerical modeling of a magnicon with two passive cavities are presented. Operation of the output cavity at the fundamental and higher harmonics of the input drive frequency is briefly discussed     

Broadband operation of a Ka-band tapered gyro-traveling waveamplifier

A wideband low-voltage millimeter-wave gyro-traveling wave tube (gyro-TWT) amplifier operating in the TE₁₀ rectangular waveguide mode at the fundamental cyclotron frequency is under investigation, The device incorporates precise axial tapering of both the magnetic field and the interaction circuit for broadband operation. Experimental results of a wide (33%) instantaneous bandwidth with a small signal gain in excess of 20 dB and saturated efficiency of ~10% were achieved and shown to be in good agreement with the theory. Reflective instability due to multi-pass effects by mismatches was observed and characterized. Gain and efficiency have been limited by this reflective instability rather than by absolute instabilities which limit the performance of gyro-TWT's with uniform cross-section. The start-oscillation current in terms of the relevant experimental parameters such as the beam velocity ratio (α), magnetic field detuning and reflection coefficient has been measured and compared with theory. Measurements of the phase variation in terms of the RF frequency have shown that the phase varies ±30° from fitted linear phase line     

W-Band Second-Harmonic Gyrotron Traveling Wave Amplifier with Distributed-Loss and Severed Structures

The second harmonic TE₀₂ gyrotron traveling wave amplifier (gyro-TWT) is a high-power, broadband, millimeter-wave amplifier with a low applied magnetic field. Mode-selective interaction circuits were applied to suppressing spurious oscillations. However, the mode-selective interaction circuit may perturb the operating mode in the gyro-TWT. A multi-stage gyro-TWT design with distributed-loss and severed structures is proposed to stabilize the amplification. This study presents a nonlinear analysis of typical oscillations, including absolute instability, gyrotron backward oscillation (gyro-BWO) and reflective oscillation. The lossy and severed sections of the multi-stage gyro-TWT seem to increase effectively the start-oscillation currents of the absolute instability, gyro-BWO, and reflection oscillation. The multi-stage gyro-TWT is predicted to yield a peak output power of 215 kW at 89.9 GHz with an efficiency of 14.3 %, a saturated gain of 60 dB and a bandwidth of 1.7 GHz for a 100 kV, 15 A electron beam with an axial velocity spread _z/ _z = 5%.     

Large-signal characteristics of a wide-band dielectric-loadedgyro-TWT amplifier

The bandwidth of a gyrotron traveling wave amplifier (gyro-TWT) has been significantly increased by partially filling the interaction waveguide with dielectric to reduce the circuit's dispersion. The proof-of-principle experiment was designed for X-band, and employs the fundamental mode of rectangular waveguide loaded with dielectric slabs along the narrow sidewalls. The amplifier yields a peak output power of 55 kW with 11% efficiency, 27 dB saturated gain, and an unprecedented untapered gyro-TWT constant-drive bandwidth of 11% and saturated bandwidth exceeding 14%. The single-stage amplifier is completely zero-drive stable. The 95-kV 5-A electron beam was produced by a single-anode magnetron injection gun with p_⊥/υ_z=0.6, as determined by the EGUN code, and Δυ_z/υ_z=4%, determined as the best fit to the gyro-TWT large-signal simulation data. Simulation studies predict that by lowering the velocity spread to Δυ _z/υ_z=2%, the amplifier performance will be further enhanced to a constant-drive bandwidth of 20% with 15% efficiency     

Performance characteristics of a high-power X-bandtwo-cavity gyroklystron

The operating characteristics of a two-cavity X-band gyroklystron experiment are reported. Beam voltages and currents up to 440 kV and 200 A, respectively, are generated in 1 μs pulses by a thermionic magnetron injection gun. Velocity ratios (ν_⊥ /ν_z) near one in the output cavity are used to achieve peak powers of 24 MW near 9.87 GHz. The maximum saturated efficiency of more than 33% occurs at a beam voltage of 425 kV and a current of 150 A. A large signal gain in excess of 34 dB is realized by operating the input cavity just below the start oscillation threshold. Details of tube stability and the dependence of amplification on magnetic field profile, input signal parameters, and various beam quantities are presented     

Nonlinear Analysis of Coaxial Gyro-Travelling-Wave-Tube Amplifier

A set of nonlinear self-consistent equations in the electron guiding center coordinates is derived for the study of the behavior of the coaxial gyro-travelling-wave-tube (gyro-TWT) amplifier. It is found that the input signal grows faster and gets saturated earlier with the increasing of b/a (ratio of the inner to outer radius). Using an electron beam of 90kV, 10A and velocity ratio of 1.0 with 3% axial velocity spread, 275kW peak output power is obtained by calculation over the frequency range of 31.22–33.52GHz, the gain, efficiency and bandwidth are 47.4dB, 30.5% and 7.5%, respectively.     

Stability of a 95-GHz slotted third-harmonic gyro-TWT amplifier

A low-magnetic-field moderate-voltage gyrotron amplifier has been designed for stable high-performance operation at 95 GHz. A slotted interaction circuit is utilized to achieve strong amplification near the third cyclotron harmonic frequency. The start-oscillation conditions were determined by an analytical theory and confirmed by a multimode particle-in cell simulation code. The dominant threat to the amplifier's stability is from a third-harmonic peniotron backward-wave interaction. A slow-timescale particle-tracing simulation code predicts the three-section slotted third-harmonic gyro-TWT, which utilizes an 11.6-kG magnet and a 50-kV 3-A υ_⊥/υ_z=1.4 axis-encircling electron beam with an axial velocity spread of 6% will yield an output power of 30 kW with an efficiency of 20%, a saturated gain of 40 dB, and a constant-drive bandwidth of 2%     

Present status of a 17.1-GHz four-cavity frequency-doubling coaxialgyroklystron design

A design of a Ku-band 17.1-GHz four-cavity coaxial gyroklystron amplifier for driving future linear colliders is presented. The X-band input cavity operates in the TE_0.11 mode, whereas the remaining three cavities (buncher, penultimate, and output) operate in the TE₀₂₁ mode, doubling the frequency of the input signal. The electron beam parameters are the following: current of 540 A, voltage of 460 kV, perpendicular-to-parallel velocity ratio of 1.5, and a parallel velocity spread of 6.4%. The output cavity has been simulated as (1) zero-drive unstable with Q-factor of 320 and (2) zero-drive stable with Q-factor of 250. The simulations show that the maximum efficiency in the first case is 37.4%, and in the second one is 34.4%. In both cases, a high gain of 60 dB at a 100-MW output power level can be realized     

Large-signal theory of gyro traveling wave tubes at cyclotronharmonics

A nonlinear theory of gyrotron traveling wave tubes (gyro-TWTs) at cyclotron harmonics has been developed taking into account the electron velocity spread and the possibility of operating with significant Doppler frequency up-shift (CARM operation). It is shown that the orbital efficiency of the relativistic gyro-TWT operating at the second cyclotron harmonic with large frequency up-conversion may exceed 60%. It is also shown that the influence of the axial inhomogeneity of the wave field on the relation between amplitudes of electric and magnetic fields of the wave causes small changes in the efficiency of gyro-TWTs. The results obtained demonstrate the sensitivity of the harmonic gyro-TWT efficiency with respect to electron velocity spread at different axial wave numbers. The expressions for the gain are derived and discussed,     

A Ku-band magnetically insulated transmission line oscillator with overmoded slow-wave-structure

In order to enhance the power capacity, an improved Ku-band magnetically insulated transmission line oscillator(MILO) with overmoded slow-wave-structure(SWS) is proposed and investigated numerically and experimentally. The analysis of the dispersion relationship and the resonant curve of the cold test indicate that the device can operate at the near π mode of the TM01 mode, which is useful for mode selection and control. In the particle simulation, the improved Ku-band MILO generates a microwave with a power of 1.5 GW and a frequency of 12.3 GHz under an input voltage of480 k V and input current of 42 k A. Finally, experimental investigation of the improved Ku-band MILO is carried out. A high-power microwave(HPM) with an average power of 800 MW, a frequency of 12.35 GHz, and pulse width of 35 ns is generated under a diode voltage of 500 k V and beam current of 43 k A. The consistency between the experimental and simulated far-field radiation pattern confirms that the operating mode of the improved Ku-band MILO is well controlled inπ mode of the TM01 mode.     

Design and experimental operation of a 165-GHz, 1.5-MW,coaxial-cavity gyrotron with axial RF output

The development of a coaxial-cavity gyrotron operating in TE_31,17 mode at 165 GHz is presented. The selection of the operating frequency and mode are based on the limitations imposed by the maximum held of the superconducting (sc) magnet at Forschungzentrum Karlsruhe, Institut fur Technische Physik (FZK), the use of the inverse-magnetron injection gun (IMIG) of the 140-GHz, TE_28,16 coaxial gyrotron and the possibility of transforming the cavity mode to a whispering gallery mode (WGM) appropriate for the dual-beam quasioptical (q.o.) output coupler and the two output windows, which are foreseen for the next lateral output version of the tube. The tube with axial output has been tested at FZK to deliver maximum output power of 1.17 MW in the designed TE_31,17 mode with 26.7% efficiency at 164.98 GHz. Maximum efficiency of 28.2% was achieved at 0.9-MW output power. The design operating point with output power 1.36 MW and 36.7% efficiency was net accessible because of beam instabilities at high electron-velocity ratio α, presumably caused due to high electron-velocity spread. Power at higher frequencies was also detected: 1.02 MW at 167.16 GHz in TE_32,17 mode with 26.88 efficiency, 0.63 MW at 169.46 GHz in TE_33,17 mode with 18% efficiency, and 0.35 MW at 171.80 GHz in TE_31,17 mode with 13.3% efficiency     

分布损耗加载回旋行波管多模稳态注波互作用理论与比较证实

基于目前国际上实验研究的均匀介质加载和周期介质加载结构,建立了一种分布式损耗加载回旋行波管(gyro-TWT)多模稳态注波互作用理论.利用这一理论,以TE01模式基波gyro-TWT注波互作用为例,将Ka和W波段的理论结果与实验和软件仿真进行比较,以证实理论的合理性.     

Critical Behavior of Nonlinear Properties in Percolating Superconductor/Nonlinear-Normal Conductor Networks

The critical behavior of nonlinear response in random networks of superconductor/nonlinear-normal conductors below the percolation threshold is investigated. Two cases are examined: (i) The nonlinear normal conductor has weakly nonlinear current (i)-voltage (ν) response of the form ν = ri + bi^α (bi^α-1《t and α > 1). Both the crossover current density and the crossover electric field are introduced to mark the transition between the linear and nonlinear responses of the network and are found to have power-law dependencies ～(f_c - f)^H and ～(f_c - f)^M as the percolation threshold f_c of the superconductor is approached from below, where H = ν_d - s_d > 0, M = ν_d > 0, ν_d and s_d are the correlation length exponent and the critical exponent of linear conductivity in percolating S/N system respectively; (ii) The nonlinear-normal conductor has strongly nonlinear ν-i response, i.e., i = X^να The effective nonlinear response X_e, behaves as X_e ～(f_c - f)^-W(α), where W ( α ) is the critical exponent of the nonlinear response x_e(α) and is α-dependent in general. The results are compared with recently published data, reasonable agreement is found.     

Preliminary Design of a Harmonic-doubling Gyrotron Traveling Wave Amplifier

This study proposes a Ka-band harmonic-doubling gyrotron traveling-wave amplifier (gyro- TWT), using distributed wall losses in the input stage and mode-selective interaction circuit in the output stage, to improve the stability of the amplification. Based on a large signal simulation code, a saturated peak power of 163 kW with an efficiency of 15.5%, a gain of 31.1 dB, and a 3 dB bandwidth of 0.9 GHz is predicted for the gyro-TWT driven by 70 kV, 15 A electron beam with a velocity ratio of 1.2 and velocity spread 5% at 33.2 GHz.     

Design of a 50 kW, wideband Ka-band slow wave cyclotron amplifier

A two-stage slow wave cyclotron amplifier is investigated to demonstrate a high power, stable, and broad Ka-band radiation source, operating at a low beam power (~60 kV, ~5 amps) and a low magnetic field (~7 kG). A linear theory predicts that the second harmonic gyro-BWO is competing in the amplifier and can be stabilized by inserting a sever in the interaction circuit. A slow-time-scale non-linear code, with a sever included, predicts a saturated gain of 24-28 dB, an efficiency of 15-17%, and an instantaneous bandwidth of 15-20% at a beam axial velocity spread of 2%. A broadband RF coupler, a mode converter, and a RF vacuum window are designed by the use of a 3D electromagnetic, finite element code. Measured RF characteristics are in good agreement with predictions