Backward Wave Oscillator Research Articles

Nonlinear and self-consistent single-mode formulation for TM-mode gyrotrons.

This work develops a nonlinear and self-consistent framework for the single-mode simulation of TM-mode gyrotrons. Unlike TE modes, a nonlinear TM wave equation is derived by considering the additional axial modulation on the electron beam due to the interaction with the axial electric field. Together with the electrons' equations of motion, particle tracing simulation is conducted to model TM-mode oscillation. For a uniform structure, the electron-beam efficiency of the TM_{11}-mode gyrotron at the W band can achieve 30% over broad parameter space. Its beam-current, beam-voltage, and pitch-factor tuning properties are investigated under different magnetic fields. By optimizing the interaction structure of the proposed gyrotron backward-wave oscillator (gyro-BWO), the maximum interaction efficiency is higher than 30% with a frequency tuning range of more than 6 GHz at the pitch factor of 1.5. The peak efficiency can remain high of 32% at low beam voltage (10 kV) and low magnetic field (32.8 kG), indicating additional operating conditions. These special features may facilitate the development of low-cost and compact gyrotron systems and show great potential in the applications for TM-mode gyro-BWOs.

Drive-Induced Backward-Wave Oscillations in Helix Traveling-Wave Tubes—A Case Study

The output section of helix traveling-wave tubes (TWTs) usually features a tapered delay line to enhance the amplifier performance. This alters the phase velocity of the circuit waves, which, in particular, disturbs the narrowband synchronism between the backward wave (BW) and the electron beam. As a result, the excitation threshold of BW oscillations (BWOs) increases. Large-signal operation significantly alters beam-wave synchronism, as the electrons loose kinetic energy during the amplification process, i.e., toward the TWT output. As a result, beam and BW may interact over a larger distance, thus lowering the threshold for the onset of BWOs. These would thus be drive-induced in contrast to the zero-drive BWOs mentioned above. The following investigates the occurrence of such drive-induced BWOs as a case study of several different TWT models and proposes a theory for the large-signal instability. As the simulation process is quite involved and time-consuming, a heuristic approach for the fast prediction of the oscillation is presented as well.

Cold Characteristics of Overmoded Ridge- and Groove-Loaded Folded Waveguides for High-Power Traveling Wave Tubes

The TE <sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">20</sub> high-order mode operation characteristics of the ridge-loaded (RL) and groove-loaded (GL) folded waveguide slow wave structures (FWG SWSs) with two electron beam channels are studied for high-power traveling wave tubes (TWTs) at the terahertz (THz) frequency regime. Operating in a higher order mode means that the SWSs can have larger structure dimensions to reduce the fabrication difficulty at the THz frequency band and use higher current to increase the output power. For FWG SWSs operating in the high-order mode, it is difficult to suppress backward wave oscillation (BWO) of fundamental mode. In this article, we proposed the RL and GL FWG SWSs to suppress BWO and studied the dispersion, coupling impedance, and transmission loss of them. The results show that the RL structure can substantially increase the start oscillation length of the interaction circuit and avoid using many circuit sections for spurious mode depression which ease the assembly process of the tube. The GL structure can broaden the bandwidth with high-order mode operation but with the ease of BWO of fundamental mode. The straight RL and GL waveguides are used to explain the above results, and the effect of electron beam channel position on coupling impedance is also studied.

Two-dimensional THz reflectometry of a periodic structure obtained by additive technology

This paper considers the development and application of a system of reflectometry for the analysis of the homogeneity of structures manufactured by additive technologies. A system of reflectometry based on a backward wave oscillator, a two-dimensional object positioning system and an optoacoustic detector (Goley cell) is described. The results of reflectometry of the hexagonal periodic structure of cells based on acrylonitrile butadiene styrene at a wavelength of 343 microns are presented.

Stabilization of the backward wave oscillator frequency for operation with high quality resonators

This article describes the performance of a backward wave oscillator, stabilized with phase locked loop. The backward wave oscillator is locked to the frequency of a direct digital synthesizer using an automatic phase locked loop. The direct digital synthesizer is playing the role of tuning part in the suggested frequency synthesizer. Mathematical evaluations of the stability, phase noise and locking speed of the suggested frequency synthesizer are obtained. The optimization technique of frequency synthesizers parameters is presented. This allows to get the maximum response speed and the lowest phase noise and level of spurious with fine tuning (less than 1 Hz). It was shown that the order and type of loop filter in the frequency synthesizer will affect simultaneously the response speed, phase noise and spurious level. The results of this paper shows that the frequency synthesizer can be used in small samples properties measurement using open resonators.

Theory and Hot Test of High-Power Broadband Helix Traveling-Wave Tube Based on a Double-Graded Radius and Pitch Circuit

The classical Pierce’s 1-D small-signal theory of backward-wave gain, generalized to allow axially varying the double-graded radius and pitch circuit characteristics, is applied. Numerical calculations demonstrate that the double gradient circuit can effectively suppress the backward-wave oscillation (BWO). Furthermore, the hot test experiment is carried out to predict the performance of the tube. The hot test results show that this helix traveling-wave tube (TWT) based on the double-graded pitch and radius circuit has achieved over 5.06 kW of output power, and the corresponding device gain achieves more than 34.1 dB in the frequency range of 8–18 GHz.

Role of Second Harmonic in the Optimization of Microwave Conversion Efficiency From an Intense Relativistic Electron Beam

In this article, the effect of second harmonic (SH) on the microwave conversion efficiency in a klystron-like relativistic backward wave oscillator (RBWO) is investigated by the nonlinear theory, particle-in-cell (PIC) simulations, and experiments. The nonlinear theory of beam-wave interaction is developed with both the fundamental frequency and SH taken into account. The calculation results show that the optimized conversion efficiency is increased from 50% to 73% as the SH is included. The PIC simulations reveal that with the introduction of a dual-premodulation (DPM) cavity to increase the SH current and then the fundamental current modulation coefficient in a klystron-like RBWO, the conversion efficiency can be enhanced from 59% to 72%. In the klystron-like RBWO experiments, a significant efficiency increase from 58% for the device without the DPM cavity to 66% with the DPM cavity has been realized. As the electron beam power is 4 GW, the out powers of the fundamental frequency and SH are measured to be 2.6 GW and 100 MW, respectively. This provides helpful guidance to further increase the microwave conversion efficiency in high-power microwave sources driven by intense relativistic electron beams.

Cell-type continuous electromagnetic radiation system generating millimeter waves for active denial system applications

The cell-type continuous electromagnetic radiation system is a demonstration device capable of generating high-power millimeter electromagnetic waves of a specific wavelength and observing their effects on living organisms. It irradiates a biological sample placed in a 30 × 30 × 50 cm3 cell with electromagnetic waves in the 3.15-mm-wavelength region (with an output of ≥1 W) and analyzes the temperature change of the sample. A vacuum electronic device-based coupled-cavity backward-wave oscillator converts the electron energy of the electron beam into radiofrequency (RF) energy and radiates it to the target through an antenna, increasing the temperature through the absorption of RF energy in the skin. The system causes pain and ultimately reduces combat power. A cell-type continuous electromagnetic radiation system consisting of four parts—an electromagnetic-wave generator, a high-voltage power supply, a test cell, and a system controller—generates an RF signal of ≥1 W in a continuous waveform at a 95-GHz center frequency, as well as a chemical solution with a dielectric constant similar to that of the skin of a living organism. An increase of 5 °C lasting approximately 10 s was confirmed through an experiment.

A method and the limitations of broadband mechanical frequency tuning in a subgigawatt relativistic Cherenkov microwave generator

In order to expand the range of mechanical tuning of generation frequency in a subgigawatt Cherenkov microwave oscillator, it is proposed to use а configuration of relativistic backward-wave oscillator (BWO) having no reflectors with the radiation output in the direction opposite to the electron beam. In a numerical experiment using KARAT electromagnetic PiC code, it is demonstrated that in this case, due to only variation of the slow-wave structure (SWS) period, it is possible to change the oscillation frequency by tens of percent preserving the TM01 operation mode. The frequency tuning range is thereby limited from below by the lower boundary of the SWS passband, near which the BWO oscillation regime is displaced by the orotron regime, and from above by high-frequency excitation of the competing TM02 mode. A moderately relativistic microwave oscillator is simulated with a tuning band between 2.73 and 4.15 GHz (frequency ratio 1.52) at the (−3 dB) level of the maximum microwave power (520 MW at 3.85 GHz). The feeding electron beam having 460 keV particle energy and 4.7 kA current is transported by the magnetic field with an induction of 1.0 T. Additional simulations demonstrate that the frequency tuning range is extendable to approximately an octave at the cost of lower generation efficiency.

Mixed-Modes Conversion Method for Dual-Mode Relativistic Backward-Wave Oscillators

In this letter, a dual-cavity TM01 and TM02 mixed modes to TM01 mode converter is proposed for a dual-mode relativistic backward-wave oscillator (RBWO) application. This converter is more compact than the conventional converters and the TM02 mode is cutoff in the output waveguide, which forces the purity of the output TM01 mode to 100%. Especially, the converter is adjustable, and by simply replacing the waveguides in it, the converter can be well-matched to different proportional mixed modes. Electromagnetic simulation results show that the conversion efficiency of the converter is higher than 99%. The converter is validated in the high-power microwave (HPM) generation experiment of the dual-mode RBWO and a conversion efficiency of 98% is realized. A pure TM01 microwave with power of 4.6 GW and pulse duration of 42 ns at 10 GHz was obtained.

Parasitic excitation of fundamental-cyclotron-harmonic waves in high-harmonic gyrotrons

A typical problem of the development of high-harmonic short-wavelength gyrotrons, namely, the competition between the operating wave and a parasitic fundamental-harmonic wave, is studied. A specific case of the excitation of a far-from-cutoff parasitic wave in the backward-wave oscillator regime is considered.

Design and Simulation Investigations of W-Band Second Harmonic Periodically Dielectric-Loaded Gyro-TWT

ABSTRACT In this article, the complete design and beam-wave interaction studies of W-band gyro-TWT amplifier have been presented. The gyro-TWT has been designed to operate at second harmonic TE 02 mode to reduce the magnetic field requirement. A triode-type magnetron injection gun has been designed and optimized for low-velocity spread using E-GUN. A novel, mode selective input coupler with a gradually tapered slotted waveguide has been used to feed the desired TE 02 mode and suppress the reflection and spurious oscillations at the input end (upstream). To abridge the absolute instability of the operating mode and backward wave oscillations caused by spurious modes, a periodic lossy dielectric-loaded RF structure has been adopted. The particle-in-cell simulation of the amplifier predicted a peak RF output power of ∼500 kW with ∼3.6 GHz bandwidth, ∼20% efficiency, and ∼32.2 dB saturated gain for the DC input of 100 kV, ∼25 A with 4% axial velocity spread and velocity ratio of 1.22. Further, to extract the output power with minimum reflection, a double-disc window has been studied. An undepressed curved collector is also designed using E-GUN and its simulation predicted a maximum heat wall loading of ∼0.39 kW /cm2.

Experimental study on performance change in F-band surface-wave oscillator due to slow-wave structure length

A surface-wave oscillator (SWO) is a high-power terahertz-wave source based on a slow-wave structure (SWS). A cylindrical corrugated waveguide is used as the SWS. The length of SWS is an important factor in the oscillation. Experiments of the SWO with various length structures are conducted. An instability responsible for the SWO changes depending on the SWS length. For the 200-period SWS, the radiation is due to the absolute instability and depends on the beam current like the temporal growth rate. By contrast, for the 80-period SWS, the radiation is due to the global instability having the current dependence like the spatial growth rate. Compared to the 80-period SWS, the 200-period SWS can improve the radiation power more than seven times in the backward wave oscillation (BWO) region. The maximum BWO power reaches up to about 10 kW and the maximum electric efficiency of 1.5% is obtained.

Theoretical analysis of a 0.22 THz multistage confocal waveguide gyro-TWT with circle-sector-shaped electron beam

In order to improve the beam–wave interaction efficiency, a special circle-sector-shaped electron beam is designed and simulated in the confocal waveguide gyrotron traveling-wave tube (gyro-TWT). The linear and nonlinear characteristics of a 0.22 THz multistage confocal waveguide gyro-TWT are analyzed. Based on kinetic theory, the linear gain, critical current of absolute instability, and starting current of backward wave oscillation (BWO) are analyzed. A quasi-optical sever is utilized in the confocal waveguide to suppress the BWO while having a slight impact on the output power. Meanwhile, the impact of velocity spread on the output parameters is also taken into consideration. The nonlinear analyses indicate that the efficiency can be up to 34%, which is substantially higher than the traditional annular electron beam.

High-Power Tunable Source of Chaotic Radiation Based on a Ka-Band Helical Gyro-BWO

We present results of experiments where Ka-band chaotic oscillation regimes with a bandwidth of about 1 GHz have been obtained in a pulsed gyrotron backward wave oscillator (gyro-BWO) using a helically corrugated waveguide. The averaged radiated power reached 40 kW with a pulse duration of about 120 μs and a repetition rate of up to 10 Hz. The variation of magnetic field allows for tuning of the central frequency of the radiation in the 32.5-35.5 GHz range.

Measurability of the Nonlinear Response of Electron Distribution Function to Chorus Emissions in the Earth's Radiation Belt

AbstractWe conduct test particle simulations to study the perturbations in a hot electron velocity distribution caused by a rising chorus element propagating parallel to the ambient magnetic field in the Earth's outer radiation belt. The wavefield is constructed from the nonlinear growth theory of chorus emissions of Omura (2021, https://doi.org/10.1186/s40623-021-01380-w), with additional considerations about saturation and propagation of the transverse resonant current being applied to model the subpacket structure. Using Liouville's theorem, we trace electrons back in time to reconstruct the evolution of electron velocity distribution at the magnetic equator. The electromagnetic hole created by nonlinear trapping and transport effects appears as a depression in the velocity distribution, aligned with the resonance velocity curve. We analyze the decrease of particle flux in this depression and estimate the energy resolution, pitch angle resolution, time resolution and geometric factor of particle analyzers needed to observe the perturbation. We conclude that particle detectors on current or recently operating spacecraft are always lacking in at least one of these parameters, which explains the missing direct observations of sharp phase space density depressions during chorus‐electron nonlinear resonant interaction. However, with a dedicated experiment and appropriate measurement strategy, such observations are within the possibilities of the current technology. Similarity of the simulated density perturbation and a step function mathematical model is used to draw an analogy between the backward wave oscillator regime of chorus generation and the nonlinear growth theory.

Analysis of Ohmic loss due to non-ideal boundary in relativistic backward wave oscillator

Radio frequency Ohmic loss due to non-ideal conductor boundaries seriously limits the performance of electronic devices. In this paper, the Ohmic losses of two simple models are calculated by particle-in-cell (PIC) simulation, which is also verified by theoretical calculation. Thereafter, based on PIC simulation, we have studied the variation of the Ohmic losses of relativistic backward wave oscillators (RBWOs) with operating frequency and material conductivity. The PIC simulation results show that as the frequency advances, the Ohmic losses of RBWOs deteriorate sharply. The power loss becomes non-negligible when compared with the output power. The loss-power ratio of a V-band RBWO made of stainless steel is over 25%. The non-negligible Ohmic loss can explain to some extent that the difference between the simulated and the experimental output power of the RBWO becomes apparent as the working frequency increases.

Nonlinear dynamics of the backward-wave oscillator as the origin of nonstationary microwave electronics

Nonlinear dynamics of the backward-wave oscillator as the origin of nonstationary microwave electronics

High-Power Backward-Wave Oscillator Using Folded Waveguide With Distributed Power Extraction Operating at an Exceptional Point

The concept of exceptional point of degeneracy (EPD) is used to conceive a degenerate synchronization regime that is able to enhance the level of output power and power conversion efficiency for backward wave oscillators (BWOs) operating at millimeter-wave and Terahertz frequencies. Standard BWOs operating at such high frequency ranges typically generate output power not exceeding tens of watts with very poor power conversion efficiency in the order of 1%. The novel concept of degenerate synchronization for the BWO based on a folded waveguide is implemented by engineering distributed gain and power extraction along the slow-wave waveguide. The distributed power extraction along the folded waveguide is useful to satisfy the necessary conditions to have an EPD at the synchronization point. Particle-in-cell (PIC) simulation results shows that BWO operating at an EPD regime is capable of generating output power exceeding 3 kwatts with conversion efficiency of exceeding 20% at frequency of 88.5 GHz.

High-Power X -Band Relativistic Backward-Wave Oscillator with Exceptional Synchronous Regime Operating at an Exceptional Point

Abstract An exceptional point of degeneracy (EPD) is induced in a system made of an electron beam interacting with an electromagnetic (EM) guided mode. This enables a degenerate synchronous regime in backward wave oscillators (BWOs) where the electron beams provides distributed gain to the EM mode with distributed power extraction. Current particle-in-cell simulation results demonstrate that BWOs operating at an EPD have a starting-oscillation current that scales quadratically to a non-vanishing value for long interaction lengths and therefore have higher power conversion efficiency at arbitrarily higher level of power generation compared to standard BWOs.