Start-up scenario of a high-power pulsed gyrotron for 300 GHz band collective Thomson scattering diagnostics in the large helical device

Abstract

We present results of theoretical study of mode competition during the voltage rise of a 300-kW, 300-GHz gyrotron operating in the TE22,2,1 mode. Simulations tracking eight competing modes show that, with a proper choice of the magnetic field, stable excitation of the operating mode can be realized, despite the presence of parasitic modes in the resonator spectrum. A finite voltage rise time, 1 kV/4 ns referred to as the slow voltage rise case, is taken into account to simulate realistically the experimental condition. Simulation results with the finite voltage rise time are in good agreement with the experimental test, in which the gyrotron demonstrated reliable operation at power levels up to 300 kW. Moreover, interesting phenomena are observed. Along with voltage rise, the oscillation manner changes from backward wave oscillation to gyrotron oscillation. In the range of the magnetic field lower than the magnetic field strength at which the TE22,2 mode attains to the maximum power, mode competition with the TE21,2 mode takes place although many other competing modes exist in between the two modes. In addition to the slow voltage rise case, the fast voltage rise case, 10 kV/4 ns, and the instant voltage rise case are considered. For these cases, simulations also predict stable oscillation of the TE22,2 mode with the same power level with the slow voltage rise case. This indicates that stable oscillations of the TE22,2 mode can be obtained in a wide range of the voltage rise time.