Optimized overmoded TE01-to-TM11 mode converters for high-power millimeter wave applications at 70 and 140 GHz

Mode coupling in bent, oversized, smooth-wall circular waveguides was studied by means of numerical integration of coupled-mode differential equations in order to optimize high-power TE01-to-TM11 mode transducers at 70 GHz and 140 GHz. Such mode transformers are used in the mode conversion sequence TEOn to TE01 to TM11 to HE11 for generating the almost perfectly linearly polarized Gaussian-like HE11 mode from circular electric TEOn gyrotron modes. This quasi-optical HE11 hybrid mode is in many respects ideal for electron cyclotron resonance heating (ECRH) of magnetically confined plasmas in thermonuclear fusion research and for other technical applications. Curvature and ellipticity coupling as well as ohmic attenuation of 6 coupled modes (TE01, TM11, TE11, TE12, TE21, TM21) are included in the coupling matrices. Integral expressions were used for deriving the coupling coefficients for arbitrary modes in bent, smooth-wall waveguide. Lowest level of unwanted spurious modes together with highest transmission efficiency (shortest arc length) is achieved with sinusoidal curvature distribution instaed of constant curvature. The calculated conversion efficiencies of 98.0% at 70 GHz and 95.2% at 140 GHz (interior waveguide diameter D=27.8 mm for 200 kW transmission lines) are in excellent agreement with the measured values of (97.6±0.4)% and (95±1)%, respectively.