Powerful oversized W-band free-electron maser with advanced Bragg resonator based on coupling of propagating and cutoff waves

Abstract

We study, both theoretically and experimentally, a free-electron maser (FEM) with a two-mirror resonator that includes the advanced Bragg structure based on coupling of propagating and cutoff waves as an upstream reflector. Similar to gyrotrons, the presence of a cutoff wave in the feedback loop improves significantly the selectivity of the resonator at large values of the oversize factor and facilitates a stable single-mode oscillation regime in short wavelength bands. Proof-of-principle experiments conducted at the induction linac LIU-3000 (Dubna) demonstrate the operability of the FEM with the proposed modification of the Bragg resonator. At the transverse oversize factor of about 5, stable narrow-band generation was achieved with an output power of up to 7 MW and the oscillation frequency of about 80 GHz corresponding to the frequency of the cutoff mode excited in the advanced Bragg reflector. These investigations encourage the application of the advanced Bragg resonators for the development of high-power long-pulse FELs driven by induction linacs and operating in the subterahertz to terahertz frequency range.