Application of Higher Harmonics Generation Mode in the Low-Voltage Vacuum Electronic Device with Non-Laminar Electron Beams to Achieve Millimeter-Band Operation

Abstract

Application of higher harmonics generation mode in a compact low-voltage vircator-type vacuum electronic device utilizing nonlaminar electron beams operating in millimeter band is considered and preliminary experimental results are reported. Higher harmonics generation was achieved by formation of translaminar electron layer through the choice of the optimal voltages for the control electrode and electron beam inhibition by the electrostatic field of the collector. This approach allowed for dense electron grouping in nonlaminar electron beams that provided the growth of the amplitude of the higher harmonics in the output power spectrum. In this system, the increase of the fundamental operating frequency by application of external magnetic field was experimentally demonstrated. If combined with higher harmonics generation mode, this can lead to significant increase of resulting operating frequency of the compact low-voltage system to millimeter wavelength band.