Theory of a ubitron in a corrugated waveguide

Summary form only given. A K/sub a/ band ubitron amplifier is currently under development at NRL utilizing grazing intersection for wide instantaneous bandwidth, circularly polarized wiggler and microwave fields for high gain and power, and a high quality Pierce gun generating a cylindrical, uniform density electron beam for high efficiency. The dispersion characteristics of a periodic waveguide can be exploited for low voltage ubitron operation. Operation in the HE/sub II/ mode of a corrugated cylindrical waveguide permits broader bandwidth amplification at lower voltages than is possible with a smooth waveguide. While the wave is ´slower´ than the smooth waveguide dispersion characteristic, the amplifier still operates on the fundamental space harmonic as a fast-wave device.