Study of high-power Ka-band second-harmonic gyroklystron amplifier

The self-consistent nonlinear theory of two-cavity high-harmonic gyroklystron amplifier has been developed. The efficiency and gain of a second-harmonic gyroklystron were calculated numerically. The results obtained were used to choose the optimal parameters of the experimental second-harmonic tube. The experimental study was carried out to test high-harmonic amplifier concept. Two-cavity 35 GHz second harmonic gyroklystron with the TE₀₂₁ cavity mode has been designed and tested in pulse operation. Output power of about 260 kW with efficiency 18% and 17 dB gain have been produced at 72 kV beam voltage and 20 A beam current. Bandwidth of about 0.1% has been observed. The restriction of the output power, efficiency, and gain was caused by spurious oscillations excited in the second cavity in the TE₀₁₁ mode at the fundamental cyclotron frequency