Possibilities for Continuous Frequency Tuning in Terahertz Gyrotrons with Nontunable Electrodynamic Systems

Abstract

Large ohmic losses in the cavities of terahertz gyrotrons may lead to the overlapping of the axial mode spectra. In a number of gyrotron experiments, this effect has been used to provide a fairly broadband frequency tuning by changing appropriately the operating magnetic field and/or accelerating voltage of the gyrotron. Similar to the systems with nonfixed axial structure of the RF electromagnetic field and low diffraction quality, which are due to weak reflections of the operating wave from the collector end of the electrodynamic system, this changing leads to a monotonic change in the axial index of the operating wave and transition from the gyrotron regime to the gyro-BWO regime. According to a theoretical comparison of these two methods performed on the basis of generalization of self-consistent gyrotron equations with allowance for variations in the axial electron momenta, low-reflection systems can provide a higher efficiency and monotonicity of the frequency tuning.