Coaxial Gyrotron Research Articles

Gyrokinetic Analysis of Influence of Electron Beam Eccentricity on Operation of Higher-Order Mode in a Coaxial Cavity Gyrotron

A gyrokinetic analysis is presented to the influence of the electron beam eccentricity on the power and starting current of a coaxial cavity gyrotron, which operates in a higher-order mode TE31, 17, 1 with a frequency of 165 GHz. It is found that the starting current becomes larger because of the existence of the electron-beam eccentricity. Especially, the power will be decreased substantially by the electron beam eccentricity, for example, down to 93% of the power without any eccentricity even if the eccentricity is 1% of the outer conductor radius. The acceptable range of the electron beam voltage and operating magnetic field for the establishment of the electromagnetic oscillation is narrowed by the electron-beam eccentricity.

A novel 4.5-MW electron gun for a coaxial cavity gyrotron

A novel 4.5-MW (90 kV, 50 A) electron gun for a 165-GHz coaxial cavity gyrotron operated in the transverse electric mode TE/sub 31, 3.7/ has been designed, fabricated, and operated in a gyrotron. The electrons are extracted toward the anode as in a conventional magnetron injection gun (MIG) and not toward the coaxial insert as in the previously used so-called inverse gun. The main advantage of this arrangement is the reduced overall radial size which becomes comparable to the size of a conventional gun with the same diameter of the emitter. The design and the technology of the electron gun fulfil the requirements for a high-power gyrotron operated at long pulses up to continuous wave. The coaxial insert is fully cooled and can be adjusted when the tube is completely assembled. The amplitude of mechanical vibrations has been measured to be less than 0.03 mm under operating conditions. This is sufficiently small for stable long-pulse operation. In operation at short pulses (ms) a microwave RF output power of 2.2 MW at 165 GHz has been obtained with a beam current of 84 A. The best operating conditions have been observed with an intermediate type of electron flow.

Experimental investigation of a 140-GHz coaxial gyrotron oscillator

We report experimental results on a megawatt power level, 140-GHz coaxial gyrotron oscillator. The gyrotron has an inverted magnetron injection gun (IMIG) designed for operation at up to 95 kV and 88 A. The IMIG has an inner grounded anode which extends from the center of the gun down through the entire length of the tube including the cavity and collector. The IMIG was tested at up to 105 kV and 93 A in 3 /spl mu/s pulses, achieving an electron beam power of 10 MW. The output power from the coaxial gyrotron cavity was transported to an internal mode converter and a single mirror that coupled the power out transversely from the tube axis. A maximum output power of up to 1 MW was obtained in the TE/sub 27,11/ mode at 142 GHz at an efficiency of 16%, about one half of the design efficiency. The reduced efficiency was attributed to nonuniformity of the cathode emission and the sensitivity to the relative alignment of the electron gun, coaxial insert, and cavity. The cathode emission over the azimuthal angle was measured for two cathodes and was shown to be nonuniform due to both temperature and emitter work function nonuniformity. The gyrotron was also tested in two alternate configurations: 1) with the internal mode converter removed (axial output), and 2) with both the internal converter and the coaxial insert removed (empty cavity). In operation in the empty cavity configuration, which is equivalent to a conventional gyrotron oscillator, output power of up to 0.9 MW was observed.

Frequency step-tunable (114–170 GHz) megawatt gyrotrons for plasma physics applications

Successful gyrotron experiments at FZK employing a conventional hollow cylindrical waveguide cavity, a quasi-optical mode converter with dimple-type launcher, a broadband silicon nitride Brewster window and a single-stage depressed collector (SDC), gave up to 1.6 MW output power at efficiencies between 48 and 60% for all operating mode series in the frequency range from 114 to 166 GHz. Frequency tuning in 3.7 GHz steps has been achieved by slow variation (minutes) of the magnetic field strength in the cavity. A specific hybrid magnet system for fast frequency tuning (1 s) is being manufactured. These experiments confirm the preliminary results achieved with a prototype fused quartz glass Brewster window. Up to now, the pulse duration has been 1–5 ms. However a water-edge-cooled silicon nitride composite Brewster window with its thermal conductivity of k=60 W/mK, permittivity ε r=7.85 ( θ Brewster=70.35°), tan δ=3.5×10 −4, excellent mechanical properties and clear window aperture of 100 mm diameter, will allow long-pulse operation (1 s) in the 1 MW power range. By increasing the beam current to 70 A (70% of the limiting current!), a maximum power of 2.14 MW, the highest value ever generated by a weakly relativistic gyrotron, has been obtained at 140 GHz with an efficiency of 34% (53% with SDC). With a TE 31,17 coaxial cavity gyrotron, also equipped with a quasi-optical mode converter and a SDC, a maximum RF-output power of 1.7 MW with an efficiency of 26.2% has been achieved at a beam current I b=69.7 A and a cathode voltage U c=93.2 kV. Around the nominal beam parameters ( I b=52.2 A, U c=91.8 kV, B cav=6.65 T) an RF-output power of 1.3 MW, with an efficiency of 27.2% (41% with SDC), has been measured. In experiments on frequency step tuning, also using the silicon nitride composite Brewster angle window, 19 different modes with ≈2.2 GHz frequency spacing have been excited with ≥1 MW power at frequencies in the range between 134 and 169.5 GHz.

Radio-frequency plasma cleaning for mitigation of high-power microwave-pulse shortening in a coaxial gyrotron

Results are reported demonstrating that radio-frequency (rf) plasma cleaning is an effective technique for mitigating microwave-pulse shortening (i.e., lengthening the pulse) in a multimegawatt, large-orbit, coaxial gyrotron. Cleaning plasmas were generated by 50 W of rf power at 13.56 MHz in nitrogen fill gas in the pressure range 15–25 mTorr. Improvements in the averaged microwave energy output of this high-power-microwave device ranged from 15% to 245% for different initial conditions and cleaning protocols. The mechanism for this improvement is believed to be rf plasma sputtering of excess water vapor from the cavity/waveguide and subsequent removal of the contaminant by cryogenic vacuum pumps.

Long-pulse, high-power, large-orbit, coaxial gyrotron oscillator experiments

Long-pulse, large-orbit, coaxial gyrotrons are currently under investigation. The electron beam is generated by the Michigan Electron Long Beam Accelerator (MELBA) with parameters: V=-0.8 MV, I/sub anode//spl les//spl sim/4 kA, I/sub tube/=0.2-2 kA, and pulse length=0.5-1 /spl mu/s. Large-orbit, axis-encircling electron beams are generated by a magnetic cusp. Experimental gyrotron performance with coaxial cavities (unslotted and slotted) is compared to a noncoaxial cavity. The coaxial gyrotron demonstrated superior current transport and microwave production over the noncoaxial gyrotron. The coaxial rod apparently raises the limiting electron beam current in the diode, allowing higher currents to be extracted. The unslotted, coaxial gyrotron showed microwave power levels of 20-40 MW with pulse lengths of 10-40 ns, This coaxial gyrotron operated in two main modes: TE/sub 111/ and TE/sub 112/ with frequencies of 2.34 and 2.5 GHz, respectively. The gyrotron frequency is tunable between the respective modes by changing the magnetic field. The slotted, coaxial gyrotron showed the highest power of 60-90 MW and extremely short pulse lengths of 10-15 ns. For all three gyrotrons, the microwave pulse-shortening mechanisms of mode hopping and mode competition are definitively identified by time-frequency analysis of heterodyned microwave data.

Step-frequency operation of a coaxial cavity gyrotron from 134 to 169.5 GHz

Experiments on frequency step tuning have been performed in a coaxial cavity gyrotron equipped with a Brewster window. In single-mode operation, 19 different modes have been excited with high power In a frequency range between 134-169.5 GHz. In all modes, the radio frequency (RF) power was efficiently transmitted through the output window with only slightly varying RF power distribution. The step-frequency tuning is restricted by the coaxial insert. In particular, the strong increase of the quality factor for small values of the parameter w, which describes the corrugation impedance, limits the maximum frequency range. Furthermore, the increase of ohmic losses at the insert for modes with reduced caustic radius may restrict the selection of usable modes.

A new approach for a multistage depressed collector for gyrotrons

A feasibility study for a two-stage depressed gyrotron collector has been performed. A new approach for an adiabatic magnetic decompression of the hollow electron beam has been used. It permits control of the radius of the constant magnetic flux surface, which determines the radial extension of the electron beam. Independent of the value of the magnetic field around the beam. For this purpose, either solenoidal coils or a ferromagnetic insert can be placed inside the hollow electron beam. Thus, the radial dimensions of a multistage depressed collector of a high-power high-frequency gyrotron can be kept within limits given by technological constraints. The energy sorting of the electron beam is improved by using electrodes inside the hollow electron beam for controlling the potential distribution. The additional control electrodes make it possible to eliminate almost all of the effect of secondary electrons on the operation of the collector. In order to demonstrate the proposed approach, a compact two-stage depressed collector has been designed for a 1.5-MW coaxial cavity gyrotron operating at 165 GHz in the transverse electric (TE)/sub 31,17/ mode, which is under development at FZK, Karlsruhe, Germany. Including the effect due to secondary electrons, a collector efficiency of 73% has been calculated with an average and peak heat dissipation density of about 240 W/cm/sup 2/ and 500 W/cm/sup 2/, respectively. This results in an increase of the output gyrotron efficiency from 36.5% to 62.6% when internal radio frequency (RF)-losses inside the gyrotron tube of 15% are taken into account.

Design of rapid-frequency step-tunable powerful coaxial-cavity harmonic gyrotrons

A design of a new powerful high-frequency short-pulse coaxial-cavity harmonic gyrotron operating at first, second, and third harmonic is presented. The design includes the analysis of mode competition between the fundamental and higher harmonic modes, as well as the investigation of the possibility of the corresponding fast frequency tuning of the gyrotron by changing the accelerating voltage. The possibilities of modification of the existing coaxial cavity gyrotron operating at present at the Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe (FZK) for operation at the second harmonic are discussed. Potentialities of such gyrotrons for plasma physics applications are noted.

Experimental test of the natural scheme of electron beam energy recovery in a coaxial gyrotron

A possibility to increase considerably the efficiency of a coaxial gyrotron by only applying independently an appropriate voltage on its electrodes (without any design modification) has been shown. The used scheme is acceptable also for frequency step tuning and the deep output power modulation.

Eigenvalue equations and numerical analysis of a coaxial cavity with misaligned inner rod

Based on the Helmholtz equation, the superposition of cylindrical wave functions, and coordinates transformation, the eigenvalue equation is derived rigorously for a coaxial gyrotron cavity with a misaligned inner rod. It is shown that, due to the existence of the structural misalignment, any single normal mode of a perfect coaxial structure (i.e., without misalignment) no longer simultaneously satisfies both the outer and inner boundary conditions; consequently, the superposition of cylindrical wave functions must be taken into account. A numerical approach of solving the eigenvalue equation is proposed in this paper. As a practical application, analysis is given to the higher mode coaxial cavity employed in a 140-GHz/1.5-MW gyrotron device at the Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe, Karlsruhe, Germany. Result shows that the eigenvalue of the operating mode in a misaligned coaxial cavity is affected noticeably by the structural misalignment.

Gyrokinetic description of the structural eccentricity influence on the starting current of a coaxial-cavity gyrotron

Based on the gyrokinetics of free-electron masers, the structural eccentricity influence on the starting current of a 1.5 MW/140 GHz, TE28,16,1 coaxial-cavity gyrotron oscillator is studied. Results show that the structural eccentricity substantially increases the starting current. The stable term of the instability, which results from the contribution of the guiding-center distribution, is of significance in a coaxial-cavity gyrotron, although it has usually been neglected in a cylindrical-cavity gyrotron. It is found that the influence of the structural eccentricity on the performance of the coaxial cavity gyrotron is more serious than that of the beam misalignment. The influences of the operating magnetic field and the beam energy on the starting current are also taken into account.

Multifrequency operation of a gyrotron

One specific example with the parameters close to the existing coaxial cavity gyrotron at the Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe (FZK) is analyzed in detail. Mode competition calculations are performed using the time dependent and self-consistent codes developed both at the FZK and the Institute of Applied Physics (IAP). The results are compared with the calculations performed earlier by one of the authors in the cold cavity approximation. Significant qualitative differences are found and the conclusion is drawn that it is absolutely necessary to use the self-consistent approach in analyzing advanced operation regimes of a gyrotron.

Gyrokinetics of Coaxial-Cavity Electron Cyclotron Maser

Based on the gyrokinetics of free-electron masers, the energy-transfer rate and starting current are derived for a coaxial-cavity electron cyclotron maser (gyrotron oscillator) with the misalignment of the inner-rod axis to the outer-cavity axis taken into account. The effect of the finite cavity length is included in the derivation. The stable term of the instability which results from the contribution of the guiding-center distribution is of significance, although it is usually neglected in a cylindrical-cavity gyrotron. It is found that the structure misalignment has more serious influence on the performance of the coaxial cavity gyrotron than the beam misalignment.

Determination of the Mode Content in Spurious Microwave Radiation of the Gyrotron with a Straight Axisymmetric Output

The method for determination of the mode content of a spurious microwave radiation of the gyrotron with a straight circular axisymmetrical output is discussed. As demonstrated, in the test task accuracy of this method is several percents. The experimental results on the determination of the mode content at the output of the coaxial gyrotron, operating on the mode TE 14.8 are in a good agreement with the theoretical calculations.

Coaxial cavity gyrotron with dual RF beam output

A 140-GHz, 1.5-MW, TE/sub 28,16/-coaxial cavity gyrotron with a dual RF beam output has been designed, built, and tested. For the first time, the generated RF power has been split into two parts and coupled out through two RF output windows in order to reduce the power loading in the windows. The quasioptical output system is based on a two-step mode conversion scheme. First, the cavity mode TE/sub -28,16/ is converted into its degenerate whispering gallery mode TE/sub +76,2/ using a rippled-wall mode converter. Then, this mode is transformed into two TEM/sub 00/ output wave beams. A maximum rf output power of about 950 kW with an output efficiency of 20% has been measured. According to numerical calculations, an rf power above 1.5 MW is expected to be generated in the cavity. Even if all losses are taken into account, a discrepancy between experiment and calculations remains. The power deficit seems to be partly caused by the influence of the stray radiation captured inside the tube. However, the two main reasons are probably an incomplete mode conversion from TE/sub -28,16/ to TE/sub +76,2/ and a large energy spread of the electron beam due to trapped electrons. An increased amount of captured stray radiation resulted in a reduced stability of operation. A single-stage depressed collector was used successfully, increasing the RF output efficiency from 20% to 29%.

Tunable coaxial gyrotron for plasma heating and diagnostics

The possibility of tuning the frequency of a coaxial gyrotron by moving the inner conductor in the axial direction is investigated. A 1.5MW coaxial gyrotron at 140GHz with the TE28,16, operating mode is considered as an example.

Thermal modelling of edge-cooled single disc gyrotron windows using a one-dimensional finite difference computer code

A one - dimensional finite - difference computer code has been developed and shown to be quite effective in thermal design and analysis of various plane edge-cooled single - disc windows for gyrotrons with Gaussian rf beam output. The program has a modular structure and is flexible enough to suit specific requirements of users; it can handle nonlinearity. Results obtained for various CVD diamond window cases compare well with the experiment and with the results obtained using ABACUS, a well-established 3-D Finite Element code. Results indicate that a CVD diamond disc with 94 mm diameter and edge cooled by water at 293 K will ensure the passage of 1 MW CW at 140 GHz. A fused quartz window, with 60 mm diamter and operating at 165 GHZ on a 1.5 MW pulsed coaxial gyrotron has also been analysed for its transient characteristics and results are presented.

Design and experimental operation of a 165-GHz, 1.5-MW, coaxial-cavity gyrotron with axial RF output

The development of a coaxial-cavity gyrotron operating in TE/sub 31,17/ mode at 165 GHz is presented. The selection of the operating frequency and mode are based on the limitations imposed by the maximum held of the superconducting (sc) magnet at Forschungzentrum Karlsruhe, Institut fur Technische Physik (FZK), the use of the inverse-magnetron injection gun (IMIG) of the 140-GHz, TE/sub 28,16/ coaxial gyrotron and the possibility of transforming the cavity mode to a whispering gallery mode (WGM) appropriate for the dual-beam quasioptical (q.o.) output coupler and the two output windows, which are foreseen for the next lateral output version of the tube. The tube with axial output has been tested at FZK to deliver maximum output power of 1.17 MW in the designed TE/sub 31,17/ mode with 26.7% efficiency at 164.98 GHz. Maximum efficiency of 28.2% was achieved at 0.9-MW output power. The design operating point with output power 1.36 MW and 36.7% efficiency was net accessible because of beam instabilities at high electron-velocity ratio /spl alpha/, presumably caused due to high electron-velocity spread. Power at higher frequencies was also detected: 1.02 MW at 167.16 GHz in TE/sub 32,17/ mode with 26.88 efficiency, 0.63 MW at 169.46 GHz in TE/sub 33,17/ mode with 18% efficiency, and 0.35 MW at 171.80 GHz in TE/sub 31,17/ mode with 13.3% efficiency.

A 1.5-MW, 140-GHz, TE/sub 28,16/-coaxial cavity gyrotron

The design of a 1.5-MW, 140-GHz, TE-/sub 28,16/-coaxial cavity gyrotron is presented and results of experimental operation are given. A cavity with a cylindrical outer wall and a radially tapered inner rod with longitudinal corrugations was used. A maximum output power of 1.17 MW has been measured in the design mode with an efficiency of 27.2%. Single-mode operation has been found over a wide range of operating parameters. The experimental values agree well with the results of multimode calculations. Frequency-step tuning has been performed between 115.6 and 164.2 GHz. In particular, an output power of 0.9 MW has ben measured in the TE/sub 25,14/ mode at 123.0 GHz and 1.16 MW in the TE/sub 32,18/ mode at 158.9 GHz. At frequencies its with strong window reflections the parameter range for which stable operation is possible is reduced significantly. In order to obtain results relevant for a technical realization of a continuously operated gyrotron, a tube with a radial radio frequency (RF)-beam output through two output windows and a single-stage depressed collector has been designed and is under fabrication. A two-step mode conversion scheme-TE-/sub 28,16/ to Te/sub +76.2/ to TEM/sub 00/-which generates two narrowly directed (60/spl deg/ at the launcher) output wavebeams has been chosen for a quasioptical (q,o) mode converter system. A conversion efficiency of 94% is expected.