Gyrotron-traveling wave-tube circuits based on lossy ceramics

The gyro-traveling wave tube (gyro-TWT) is a microwave amplifier with simultaneous high power, high frequency, and broad bandwidth capabilities. Techniques for providing a controlled loading of the TE/sub 01/ cylindrical-guide operating mode of a 35 GHz gyro-TWT using monolithic, lossy ceramic structures are presented. The loading scheme, which also suppresses spurious backward-wave oscillations in the TE/sub 11/, TE/sub 21/, and TE/sub 02/ modes, is based on a sequence of alternating ceramic cylindrical shells and metal rings to form the electron beam tunnel. Design techniques for achieving optimal performance and methods for reducing the sensitivity to temperature-induced variations in ceramic dielectric properties are presented.