Prebunched beam traveling-wave tube studies

A traveling-wave tube with a prebunched beam is found to have a considerably higher efficiency than the same tube without prebunching. For the particular tube tested the efficiency is increased from 20 to over 35 per cent at a gain of 8. Computer calculations using a discrete disk model give similar results. The beam is bunched tightly in energy at the position of highest efficiency, indicating that very high efficiency could be obtained with a depressed collector. Both current and velocity modulation are required for prebunching, and are obtained by means of a current grid followed by an inductively tuned velocity modulation cavity. The requirements of the current grid are not great so that operation should be possible at frequencies well above the normal operating region of a microwave triode. The operation of the tube is sensitive to the output match, and it appears to be difficult to obtain a good match with the beam on.