Mode competition in the orotron

A nonlinear, self-consistent and multimode analysis of the orotron is presented. The field in the cavity is expanded into the Hermite-Gaussian modes with time-dependent amplitudes, for which a set of ordinary differential equations is obtained from Maxwell's equations. The equations for the amplitudes are coupled to the equations of motion for the electrons. To yield a self-consistent solution, this set of coupled equations is solved simultaneously. The calculations yield transient and steady state behaviour, saturated efficiency, mode competition and multi-frequency behaviour.