Large-signal operation of a third-harmonic slotted gyro-TWT amplifier

Author

Chong, C.K. ; McDermott, D.B. ; Luhmann, N.C., Jr.

Author_Institution

Dept. of Appl. Sci., California Univ., Davis, CA, USA

Volume

26

Issue

3

fYear

1998

fDate

6/1/1998 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

500

Lastpage

507

Abstract

The large-signal characteristics are reported for a slotted third-harmonic gyrotron traveling-wave tube (gyro-TWT) amplifier. The slotted interaction circuit yields strong harmonic interaction for relatively low-energy axis-encircling electrons. The circuit was sliced to suppress competing modes by interrupting their wall currents. The experiment was conducted in the X-band as a scaled test of a 95-GHz amplifier design developed in collaboration with CPI/Varian. A gyroresonant RF accelerator was employed to produce the required axis-encircling electron beam. The two-stage slotted third-harmonic gyro-TWT with a beam current equal to 60% of the design value was stable and yielded an output power of 6 kW with 5% efficiency and 11-dB saturated gain over a bandwidth of 3%

Keywords

gyrotrons; millimetre wave power amplifiers; travelling wave amplifiers; 11 dB; 6 kW; 95 GHz; CPI/Varian; X-band; axis-encircling electron beam; bandwidth; competing modes suppression; gyroresonant RF accelerator; harmonic interaction; large-signal characteristics; large-signal operation; low-energy axis-encircling electrons; slotted interaction circuit; third-harmonic slotted gyro-TWT amplifier; traveling-wave tube; Bandwidth; Circuit testing; Collaboration; Electron accelerators; Electron beams; Gyrotrons; Power amplifiers; Power generation; Radio frequency; Radiofrequency amplifiers;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Plasma Science, IEEE Transactions on

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0093-3813

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/27.700784

Filename

700784