Millimeter-Wave HF Relativistic Electron Oscillators

A review of the experimental study of single-mode oscillators based on stimulated bremsstrahlung and Cerenkov radiation of high-current relativistic electron beams is given. Three types of Cerenkov oscillators are investigated in detail: orotrons, surface wave oscillators and a flimatron (free electron maser (FEM) based on Smith-Purcell radiation). The bremsstrahlung oscillators studied are gyrotrons with TM modes, a ubitron operating at a quasi-critical frequency and cyclotron autoresonance masers. Electrodynamic and electron methods of mode selection provide stable radiation with a reproducible space structure of radiation in all oscillators under study. The radiation power attained 50-100 MW for long and 10-30 MW for short millimeter wavelengths at the efficiency up to 5-10 percent. Various types of oscillators are compared. Promising methods for increasing power and radiation frequency are discussed.