Gyrotron-TWT Operating Characteristics

The gyrotron traveling-wave tube (gyro-TWT) is a new type of millimeter amplifier which employs the electron cyclotron maser instability as a basis for the electron-electromagnetic wave interaction. A C-band gyro-TWT, employing the fundarnental cyclotron resonance interaction with the circularly polarized TE/sub 11/ dominant waveguide mode, has been constructed and tested. Initial power measurements yielded an output power of 50 kW at 60-kV beam voltage with 16.6-percent efficiency and 6-percent bandwidth. These measurements were recorded with a flat magnetic field. Subsequent experimental testing yieIded, for a magnetic field increasing in magnitude towards the output portion of the tube, 128-kW and 65-kV beam voltage at 24-percent electronic efficiency. The maximum efficiency was 26 percent at 120.5-kW peak power, with an instantaneous bandwidth of 7.25 percent as measured in a high-beam power mode (65 kV, 7 A). In the low-beam power mode (40 kV, 4 A), the efficiency was 9.8 percent at 18.8-kW peak power at 9.3-percent instantaneous bandwidth. Additional experimental results of AM and PM modulation coefficients, spectral purity, phase Iinearity, and noise figure are presented.     

螺旋线行波管中螺距跳变幅度对输出功率的影响

通过对具有动态速度渐变（咖特性的注波互作用机理和谐波抑制技术的讨论得出了合理螺旋线的参量够提高螺旋线行波管频带内输出功率的初步结论。通过数值计算对螺距跳变幅度对输出功率影响进行了重点研究,进一步印证了初步结论。并得出了恰当的螺距跳变幅度可抑制二次谐波。增强基波,提高频带内输出功率的重要结论。所得结论为螺旋线慢波系统的设计工作的进一步开展指明了一个方向。     

10W near-diffraction-limited peak pulsed power from Al-free, 0.98μm-emitting phase-locked antiguided arrays

10 W peak-pulsed power emitted in a beam pattern 2×diffraction limit (DL) is obtained from a 40-element, 200 μm-aperture Al-free phase-locked antiguided array (λ=0.98 μm). 60% of the power resides in the central lobe, and the external differential quantum efficiency is 54%, for 1 mm-long optimised facet-coated devices     

Increase of Gyrotron Output Power at High-Order Axial Mode Through an After-Cavity Excitation of the Next Transverse Mode

In the experimental study on the frequency tuning of a double-beam gyrotron, an unexpected abrupt increase of the output power was observed for some magnetic field values corresponding to the excitation of high-order axial modes (HOAM). This effect can be explained through an after-cavity interaction of the spent but bunched electron beam with the neighboring transverse mode which has the same azimuthal but the next (i.e., greater by one) radial index with respect to the operating mode. The calculations show that under certain conditions the cyclotron synchronism between the electron beam and the next radial mode occurs in the extended region of an output cone, while the bunching of the spent electron beam is responsible for the excitation of this mode. The influence of some additional factors such as reflections of both modes from the output window, electron velocity spread, and magnetic field profile was studied numerically. It was shown that reflections, mode transformation, and velocity spread can enhance the effect of an abrupt power increase and reduce the starting current of the operating mode. The discovered after-cavity interaction can be either useful for a power increase at the HOAM operation of the frequency-tunable gyrotron or harmful for high cyclotron harmonic operation due to an expansion of the zone of fundamental cyclotron resonance mode excitation.

     

A three-dimensional multifrequency large signal model for helixtraveling wave tubes

A three-dimensional (3D) multifrequency large signal model of the beam wave interaction in a helix TWT is described. The beam is divided into a set of discrete rays, or “beamlets”, instead of the disks or rings used in one-dimensional (1-D) or two-dimensional (2-D) models. The RF fields supported by the helix are represented by a tape helix model that uses a modal expansion including the full (Bessel function) radial dependence of the fields; both forward and backward synchronous space harmonics are included in the model. RF space charge fields are obtained from solutions of the Helmholtz equations for the RF electric and RF magnetic fields, using the beam current and charge densities as sources. The dc space charge electric field is similarly obtained from a solution of Poisson's equation. This model has been implemented in a code called CHRISTINE 3D, a generalization of the one dimensional CHRISTINE code. The full three dimensional treatment permits the accurate computation of large signal gain and efficiency, taking into account the self-consistent variation of beam radius along the interaction space. The code also computes helix interception current and transverse beam distributions at the entrance to the collector-important design data that are unavailable from a 1D model. Results from the CHRISTINE 3D code are shown to compare very favorably with measurements of output power, efficiency, and interception current vs. drive power. Its predictions for spent beam distributions also compare very well with measurements. Run times for the code are problem dependent, but for a single case of interest are typically 1 to 5 min on a 450 MHz PC, orders of magnitude shorter than that required for a comparable 3D particle-in-cell simulation     

Noise measurements on a magnetron injection gun beam

The results of noise measurements conducted on a helix-type traveling-wave amplifier containing a magnetron injection gun are described. A minimum noise figure of 15.3 dB was observed at 760 MHz with an approximate beam power of 1600 watts. The noise figure was minimized by an adjustment of the magnetic field, which determines the transit time of the electrons through a drift region. This optimizes the magnitude and phase of the standing noise waves at the helix input.     

Analyse théorique et caractérisation expérimentale ďune jonction Y intégrée utilisée comme capteur de déplacement

The coherent coupling of radiation modes in symmetric single-mode Y-junction excited by a single mode fiber is studied in this work. Using the bpm (beam propagation method) we find that the power splitting between the two outputs of the junction depends strongly on the fiber displacement with respect to the junction axis of symmetry. A GaAs/GaAlAs single mode junction is tested and the experimental measurements show a splitting ratio as high as 12 dB that could not be explained if the radiation field is neglected. The experimental results confirm the theoretical predictions that take into account the propagation of radiation modes in the structure. These results propose the structure to be used as an integrated optical displacement sensor with a sensitivity in the order of 5 dB/μm and a dynamic range within 4 to 5 μm.     

System Development and Performance Testing of a W-Band Gyrotron

A high-power W-band gyrotron has been designed and performance tested in Korea, with an output power in the range of tens of kilowatts. The gyrotron consists of a diode-type electron gun operating at 40 kV, a TE6,2 mode interaction cavity, and a mode converter for producing a highly Gaussian output mode beam. Presented here are the detailed component design procedure and the experimental results of the gyrotron’s performance evaluation. A maximum power of 62 kW was achieved with an efficiency of 22 %, and a highly Gaussian output beam was observed. The gyrotron’s output beam is analyzed, and its transmission through an oversized waveguide is discussed. This gyrotron is the first gyrotron developed in Korea with high power greater than 10 kW and high frequency greater than 90 GHz.     

Computer simulation of the helix traveling-wave amplifier with harmonic signals

Both fundamental and second-harmonic output powers have been computed with an axially symmetric three-dimensional model of a helix traveling-wave amplifier. They agree reasonably well with measurements. For three beam power levels, the computed transfer curves show RF drive powers consistently about 3 dB below the measured powers and saturated output powers about 2 dB below the measured values. Inaccuracies in the assumed initial beam radius, density and velocity may have caused these differences. Suppressing the second harmonic raises the computed fundamental output power by 3 dB. The model accurately reproduces a measured 11 dB dip in the second harmonic as the fundamental signal saturates.     

Large signal behavior of high power traveling-wave amplifiers

The results of an experimental investigation on the large signal behavior of a kilowatt power level helix type traveling-wave amplifier tube are presented. Operation with and without attenuators was investigated using a movable electromagnetic probe to measure power level along the tube. Quite different effects of drive power and beam voltage on the saturation level were found for operation with and without attenuators. The maximum power level is lower for attenuator operation. Also, power levels do not continue to increase with increasing beam voltage and drive power. In contrast, attenuator-less operation produces the highest efficiency, and the power levels continue to rise with increasing beam voltage and drive power. Conversion efficiencies as high as 25 per cent are obtained with an attenuator and as high as 40 per cent without an attenuator. Efficiency calculations based on small-signal theory can be made to agree reasonably well with the experimental attenuator-less operation efficiencies by assuming an appropriate ratio of the ac component of beam current to the dc component of beam current, i/I0.     

Study of an internally matched helical beam antenna

An internally matched helical beam antenna has been designed and constructed. The helix winding of a helical antenna was designed to be a slow wave section by placing a ground copper sheet on the inner side of the winding and inserting a dielectric sheet between the winding and the ground copper sheet to form a distributed capacitance along the antenna. By carefully adjusting the internal inductance of the helix winding and the distributed capacitance, the antenna can radiate in the axial mode and be internally matched to the 50-Ω transmission line feeding it. With this arrangement, the dimension of such an antenna can be much smaller than that for an ordinary helical beam antenna at the same operating condition. Details of the antenna design and experimental results are presented     

弯曲限模对大模场光纤横模不稳定效应的影响

横模不稳定效应已经逐渐成为引起高功率光纤激光光束质量急剧恶化并限制其输出功率进一步提升的首要瓶颈问题。基于全光纤化正向泵浦的窄线宽高功率放大平台，对大模场光纤激光器中的横模不稳定效应进行了一系列的探索研究。根据耦合模方程的计算结果，所用大模场光纤25/400 μm中LP₀₁、LP₁₁模之间的非线性耦合强度最大，这也直接诱导了横模不稳定效应的发生。为了抑制LP₁₁模在主放大级的产生和放大，通过弯曲限模这种可操作性强的模式滤波技术，将主放增益光纤的弯曲半径从6 cm缩小至5 cm的过程中，高功率光纤激光系统的横模不稳定阈值从1000 W量级提高到了1600 W量级，而且激光器的其他输出性能几乎没有受到影响。这为构建实际的窄线宽高功率全光纤化的激光系统提供了强有力的实验参照。     

基于旁瓣光束衍射反演的远场测量旁瓣波峰参数检测方法

针对强激光远场测量不能有效识别旁瓣光束任意方向各个旁瓣波峰参数的问题,提出了基于旁瓣光束衍射反演的远场测量旁瓣波峰参数的检测方法。对旁瓣光束图像按照选定的角度采样间隔进行量化,使用角度变换将二维旁瓣光束图像转化为全方向的一维旁瓣光束曲线集合,检测每一个角度的一维旁瓣光束曲线的各个旁瓣波峰参数,从而获得旁瓣光束任意方向各个旁瓣波峰的参数。主要优化措施为：(1)使用角度变换将二维旁瓣光束图像转化为全方向的一维旁瓣光束曲线集合;(2)检测每一个角度的一维旁瓣光束曲线的各个旁瓣波峰的参数,统计所有方向的各个旁瓣峰值,生成每个旁瓣波峰的极大值圆环;(3)统计每个旁瓣波峰极大值圆环的灰度均值,将各个旁瓣波峰极大值圆环的灰度均值与本底噪声进行比较,选择大于本底噪声1.5倍的最小波峰均值为整个旁瓣光束的最小可测旁瓣波峰信号。实验结果表明：该方法能够有效检测旁瓣光束任意方向各个旁瓣波峰的参数,任意方向上灰度极大值均值与理论值灰度极大值误差为0.477,5个波峰的极大值圆环半径均值与理论值半径之间误差小于1个像素。该方法提高了基于旁瓣光束衍射反演的远场测量的实验精度和可信度,为将来大科学装置强激光远场的精...     

Investigations on Transverse-Mode Competition and Beam Quality Modeling in End-Pumped Lasers

The transverse-mode competition and beam quality modeling in scaling fiber-coupled laser diode (LD) end-pumped lasers to higher power and better beam quality have been investigated with the space-dependent multimode rate equations by including the thermal effect. The total photon number and threshold of the pumping rate for each mode in the cavity were obtained by solving these equations with an iterative method, and so the threshold of the pumping power, output power, optical and slope efficiency of the single mode and laser could all be calculated. Several lasers, including one ideal laser, one multimode laser, one quasi-fundamental mode laser with folded structure, were brought forward to demonstrate the modeling process and investigate the transverse-mode competition process. The calculated results were compared with the experimental ones and the rationality of the model built in this paper was validated. The model presented here may serve as the designing guideline for a practical laser, especially one with beam quality requirement.      

An Experimental Gyro-TWT

Three experimental gyro traveling wave tubes (TWT'S) have been built and tested. All tubes used a fundamental cyclotron resonance interaction with the circularly polarized TE/sup 0/sub 11/ dominant waveguide mode. The tubes differed in the length of the single circuit section and in the amount of distributed loss used. The experiments were conducted at 5 GHz, with the object of producing a design that could be scaled to 94 GHz. Results on the third experiment include measurements of stable gain as high as 24 dB small signal and 18 dB saturated. A saturated power output of 120 kW at a total beam efficiency of 26 percent was measured with a 3-dB saturated power output bandwidth of 6 percent. The design features of the tubes and the experimental results are described fully.     

Leaky Waveguide: TE/sup cir//sub 01/ Circular Waveguide Periodic Array of Circular Apertures

This paper describes propagation characteristics of periodic leaky waveguides for helix waveguides and solid metal waveguides carrying a TE/sup cir//sub 01/ mode based primarily on experimental studies. For low-loss leaky waveguides, this type has not been considered feasible, because of the critical problem encountered in mode conversion-reconversion at the circular apertures. Additional loss due to the periodic array of the circular apertures and TE/sup cir//sub 01/ loss/frequency characteristics of the periodic leaky waveguide using helix waveguides and solid metal waveguides are measured by the shuffle-pulse method in the X-band. The periodic leaky waveguides using solid metal waveguides are seen to be acceptable for practical use as a low-loss leaky waveguide system, according to these measurements.     

A Fast Computation Technique for RF Performances in Broadband Millimeter Wave Helix TWTs

A computation technique for gain, efficiency and output power in broadband millimeter wave helix TWTs from their dimensions is described. The computed results by modeling are good agreement with experimental measurements. It is shown that the method is fast and useful accuracy. It can be used as engineering design for MMW TWTs.     

Mode competition using TE03 gyrotron cavities

The gyrotron is a powerful source of millimetre wave radiation. Fusion applications require more power per tube than is currently available This in turn means that the resonator must be highly overmoded, with a dense mode spectrum, which leads to mode competition. The influence of external parameters, such as the applied magnetic field, electron beam, and resonator geometry, on mode competition in tubes designed to operate at 150 and 140 GHz in the TE⁰³ mode is investigated theoretically and experimentally. It can be shown that even when the mode spectrum is fairly dense, single mode operation of a gyrotron is possible. The influence of startup conditions on output power is investigated in the 150 GHz experiment. In some cases, modes with an axial index of 2 were excited.     

The Use of Flat Waveguide in the Millimeter Range

The use of flat waveguide in the millimeter range has the advantage of increased power handling ability and lower attenuation as compared to the ordinary single mode guide. These advantages are gained at the expense of possible multi-mode propagation. Various flat guide components are described which are designed to operate over a 4:1 frequency band with minimum higher mode excitation. In addition, the measurement of the equivalent coupling parameters of waveguide discontinuities when two modes are propagating, is discussed. These measurements are facilitated through the use of a novel standing wave indicator which allows the standing wave of each mode to be measured separately. The experimental values of the coupling parameters are in good agreement with those predicted by theory.