Direct Measurement of Positronium HyperFine Structure: ～ A New Horizon of Precision Spectroscopy Using Gyrotrons ～

Positronium is an ideal system for research on QED, especially in a bound state. A discrepancy (3.9σ) is found recently between measured HFS values and the QED prediction (including up-to O(α ³ log α ^− 1), where α is the fine-structure constant.). It might be due to a contribution of unknown new physics or common systematic problems in all the previous measurements. A new method to measure HFS directly is performed using a high power gyrotron. The transition from ortho-positronium to para-positronium has been observed with 5 σ CL, which is the first observation of M1 transition in (sub)Terahertz region. New technologies of high power gyrotrons are developed for precision spectroscopy.     

Computer Simulation of Axis-Encircling Beams Generated by an Electron Gun with a Permanent Magnet System

Results from computer aided design of a novel electron gun generating axis-encircling beams are presented and discussed. Numerical experiments were performed by the new version of the software package GUN-MIG named GUN-MIG/CUSP. It is based on a self-consistent relativistic model and is developed as a problem oriented tool for analysis of electron-optical systems with magnetron injection guns (MIG) and electron guns with field reversal (cusp guns), forming axis-encircling beams. As a result of the simulations an electron-optical design of a novel electron gun with permanent magnet system was accomplished. The gun is expected to form high quality beams with small velocity spread and beam ripple. Parameters of the generated beams are appropriate for a prospective weakly relativistic high harmonic large orbit gyrotron (LOG). The development of such device is in progress now at the Research Center for Development of Far-Infrared Region (FIR Center) at Fukui University.     

Design of a Quasi-Optical System to Convert TE0n Mode Outputs of a Gyrotron into Gaussian Beams

In this paper we present a novel design of a quasi-optical system for conversion of gyrotron outputs into gaussian beams. It consists of a quasi-optical antenna, four focusing mirrors (parabolic cylinders) and a filter which removes the side lobes of the beam. The system is capable to convert three TE_0n mode outputs into gaussian beams with waist size of 16.7 mm as well as four TE_1n mode outputs into bi-gaussian beams with waist size of 10.9 mm in width and 16.5 mm in length.     

Design of an Optimized Resonant Cavity for a Compact Sub-Terahertz Gyrotron

Coherent sources of radiation in the sub-terahertz and the terahertz frequency range are in great demand for various spectroscopic studies (e.g. electron spin resonance spectroscopy, DNP/NMR spectroscopy etc.). The required levels of the output power as well as the needed specific spectral characteristics make the gyrotrons the most promising and high-performance devices for such applications. Recently, an initial design of a versatile second harmonic gyrotron utilizing a compact cryo-free 8 T superconducting magnet has been accomplished. In this paper we present an optimized resonator for this gyrotron. Instead of a regular (cylindrical) part as in the conventional cavities it contains an uptapered section. Such configuration offers a significant increase of the efficiency and improves the overall performance of the tube. We outline briefly the underlying theory, present and discuss the results of the numerical experiments carried out during the optimization process.     

Cyclotron Autoresonance with TE and TM Guided Waves

The electron cyclotron autoresonance is of both theoretical and practical interest for acceleration of charged particles and for generation of microwave radiation in various gyro-devices. In this paper a unified first-principles approach is applied to the analysis of the interaction of gyrating electrons with electromagnetic waves with different characteristic impedance. In contrast to the previous works that consider the underlying autoresonance integral only for the case of plane transverse waves and TE modes our analysis is applied also to TM modes. An approximate constant of motion is derived for the latter case from which it follows that the requirements for autoresonance can be satisfied easily in comparison to the TE modes. Some fundamental relations which follow from the analysis are discussed as well.     

Numerical Analysis of Weakly Relativistic Large Orbit Gyrotron with Permanent Magnet System

High-harmonic gyro-devices with axis-encircling electron beams known as large orbit gyrotrons (LOG) represent an appealing alternative to the conventional gyrotrons. In this paper we investigate the feasibility of such device operating with low current and low energy electron beams formed by a novel electron gun with a permanent magnet system. The results from the numerical experiments indicate the possibility to excite TE₄₁ mode at fourth harmonic of the cyclotron frequency. Simulations predict generation of microwave radiation with frequency 104 GHz and output power near 1 kW.     

Application of Novel Focusing Mirrors in Gyrotron Transmission Lines

A novel focusing mirror based on the shifting of the beam phase according to the Gaussian beam optics enabled us to realize a focusing elements with different focal lengths in different directions and to convert the gyrotron output into a Gaussian-like beam. In this paper, we compare the quality of beams produced by the new system (which includes novel mirrors) and a conventional system consisting of a quasi-optical antenna, an ellipsoidal mirror and two parabolic cylinder mirrors.     

Gyrotrons for High-Power Terahertz Science and Technology at FIR UF

In this review paper, we present the recent progress in the development of a series of gyrotrons at the Research Center for Development of Far-Infrared Region, University of Fukui, that have opened the road to many novel applications in the high-power terahertz science and technology. The current status of the research in this actively developing field is illustrated by the most representative examples in which the developed gyrotrons are used as powerful and frequency-tunable sources of coherent radiation operating in a continuous-wave regime. Among them are high-precision spectroscopic techniques (most notably dynamic nuclear polarization-nuclear magnetic resonance, electron spin resonance, X-ray detected magnetic resonance, and studies of the hyperfine splitting of the energy levels of positronium), treatment and characterization of advanced materials, and new medical technologies.     

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.