Two-Wave Cherenkov Oscillator With Moderately Oversized Slow-Wave Structure

Abstract

This paper describes a new design of a relativistic Cherenkov oscillator with strong modulation of the e-beam current at the input of two-sectioned slow-wave structure, as well as numerical and experimental results on generation of few gigawatt-level $X$ -band pulses with pulse duration of up to 35 ns. Due to special phase shift between two sections and electrodynamic coupling between $E_{01}$ surface wave and $E_{02}$ volume mode, the first one is locked at the upper boundary of the passband and the second one gains more transparency. An electron beam can interact simultaneously with two waves with higher power conversion efficiencies, which in simulations amount up to 47% and 30% for high (~4 T) and low (~1 T) guiding magnetic fields, correspondingly. The tests of the geometry optimized in simulations were performed on the base of SINUS-7 high-current electron accelerator in the diode voltage range of 400–850 kV and current from 7 to 16 kA. The repeated and full-pulsewidth generation of about 1.5-GW microwave power is achieved only in the low magnetic field. The pulse shortening and the mode competition took place in the strong magnetic field. The results are considered as preliminary for creation of the efficient relativistic millimeter-wave oscillators at magnetic fields below the cyclotron resonance.