Cyclotron resonance maser experiment in a nondispersive waveguide

Abstract

A cyclotron-resonance maser (CRM) oscillator experiment in which a spiraling electron beam interacts with a transverse electromagnetic wave in a nondispersive waveguide is presented. The experiment employs a low-energy (<5 keV) low-current (<1 A) electron beam in a two-wire (Lecher type) waveguide. The microwave output frequency is tuned in this experiment by the axial magnetic field in the range 3.5-6.0 GHz. A second harmonic emission is observed at /spl sim/7 GHz. CRM theory shows that in a free-space TEM-mode interaction, the gain might be canceled due to the equal and opposite effects of the axial (Weibel) and the azimuthal bunching mechanisms. This balance is violated in the large transverse velocity regime (V/sub /spl perp///spl Gt/V/sub z/) in which our experiment operates. The tunability measurements of the CRM oscillator experiment in the nondispersive waveguide are discussed in view of the CRM theory.