Internal Quasi-optical Mode Converter Research Articles

Design and experimental results of a 28 GHz, 400 kW gyrotron for electron cyclotron resonance heating

A high-power 28 GHz gyrotron has been successfully developed at the Institute of Applied Electronics, China Academy of Engineering Physics. This gyrotron was designed for electron cyclotron resonance heating (ECRH) in the spherical tokamak XL-50. A diode magnetron injection gun was designed to produce the required gyrating electron beam. The gyrotron operates in the TE8,3 mode in a cylindrical open cavity. An internal quasi-optical mode converter was designed to convert the operating mode into a fundamental Gaussian wave beam and separate the spent electron beam from the outgoing microwave power. A tube has been built and successfully tested. The operational frequency of the tube is 28.1 GHz. For beam parameters at an accelerating voltage of 71 kV and beam current of 16 A, the gyrotron has delivered an output power of 400 kW, with a pulse length of 5 s. The output efficiency is about 50% with a single-stage depressed collector. The gyrotron has been installed on the XL-50 and has played an important role in the ECRH experiments.

A 94 GHz continuous operation second harmonic gyroton with 1.8 T solenoid

The continuous operation of a W-band gyrotron without superconduct magnet was realized. The gyrotron operated at the second harmonic cyclotron frequency. Its operational frequency was 94.08 GHz and the operating mode was TE02. The required 1.8 T magnetic field was generated by a DC solenoid cooled by water. The power consumption of the solenoid was 28 kW and the driving current was 500 A. The inner bore diameter was 66 mm. The gyrating electron beam was generated by a triode magnetic injection gun. A high efficiency internal quasi-optical mode converter was used to separate the wave from the electron beam. In the test, 5 min stable operation was realized. The output power was 12 kW with an electron beam of 45 kV, 1.7 A. The output efficiency was 15.7%.

Characteristics of the mode converter of Gyrotron FU CW GII radiating Gaussian beams in both the fundamental and second harmonic frequency bands

Gyrotron FU CW GII, the second gyrotron of the Gyrotron FU CW G-series with an internal quasi-optical mode converter, was recently developed at the Research Center for Development of Far-Infrared Region, University of Fukui (FIR FU) [Y. Tatematsu et al., J. Infrared, Millimeter, Terahertz Waves 35, 169 (2014)]. The design oscillation mode of this gyrotron is TE8,3 with a corresponding frequency of 393.4 GHz in the second harmonic cyclotron resonance. We observed oscillations of different modes including fundamental harmonic modes in the 200-GHz band upon varying the strength of the magnetic field in the cavity. Radiation patterns corresponding to these modes emitted from the window were Gaussian although the internal mode converter was designed for the TE8,3 mode. The directions of the radiated Gaussian beams were found to depend on the oscillation modes with a relation similar to that obtained for another gyrotron that was also equipped with a mode converter. This relation is explained based on geometrical optics. Moreover, numerical calculation with the electromagnetic wave code developed in FIR FU confirmed the same relation. The observed features of the Gyrotron FU CW GII show that it can serve as a unique power source with two frequency bands at 200 and 400 GHz. This result provides a way of developing multiple-frequency gyrotrons.

Development of second harmonic gyrotrons, Gyrotron FU CW GII and Gyrotron FU CW GIII, equipped with internal mode converters

Second harmonic gyrotrons, Gyrotron FU CW GII and Gyrotron FU CW GIII, were developed at the Research Center for Development of Far-Infrared Region, University of Fukui, Japan to achieve two goals. Each gyrotron was equipped with an internal quasi-optical mode converter. Using Gyrotron FU CW GII allowed the design of the cavity and mode converter to be validated, which was the first goal. After that, Gyrotron FU CW GIII, which is an improved version of Gyrotron FU CW GII, allowed us to achieve a high power output of up to 420 W, which was the second goal, with a cathode voltage setting of −21 kV and a beam current of 0.57 A. This was achieved using a newly developed electron gun and with the careful sitting of the gyrotron on the magnet.

Continuous-Wave Operation of a Frequency-Tunable 460-GHz Second-Harmonic Gyrotron for Enhanced Nuclear Magnetic Resonance

The design, operation, and characterization of a continuous-wave (CW) tunable second-harmonic 460-GHz gyrotron are reported. The gyrotron is intended to be used as a submillimeter-wave source for 700-MHz nuclear magnetic resonance experiments with sensitivity enhanced by dynamic nuclear polarization. The gyrotron operates in the whispering-gallery mode TE(11,2) and has generated 16 W of output power with a 13-kV 100-mA electron beam. The start oscillation current measured over a range of magnetic field values is in good agreement with theoretical start currents obtained from linear theory for successive high-order axial modes TE(11,2,q). The minimum start current is 27 mA. Power and frequency tuning measurements as a function of the electron cyclotron frequency have also been carried out. A smooth frequency tuning range of 1 GHz was obtained for the operating second-harmonic mode either by magnetic field tuning or beam voltage tuning. Long-term CW operation was evaluated during an uninterrupted period of 48 h, where the gyrotron output power and frequency were kept stable to within ±0.7% and ±6 ppm, respectively, by a computerized control system. Proper operation of an internal quasi-optical mode converter implemented to transform the operating whispering-gallery mode to a Gaussian-like beam was also verified. Based on the images of the gyrotron output beam taken with a pyroelectric camera, the Gaussian-like mode content of the output beam was computed to be 92% with an ellipticity of 12%.

A High Efficiency Launcher and Mirror System for Use in a 110 GHZ TE22,6 Mode Gyrotron

A four-mirror internal quasi-optical mode converter designed for a CPI gyrotron is discussed. Many improved methods were used in designing the mode converter. The launcher was designed and analyzed using the TOL and Surf3d codes developed by CCR. Mirrors 1 and 2 were designed using analytic surfaces to shape the general wavefront curvature of the beam radiated from the launcher. Mirrors 3 and 4 were iteratively designed using improved techniques that produced smooth mirror surfaces. Good agreement was found between theory and low-power cold-test measurements. The fraction of power coupled between the target Gaussian beam and the output of mirror 4, inferred from measurements, was 0.990. The stray radiation from the internal quasi-optical mode converter, inferred from measurements, was only 1.9% of the total power radiated from the launcher. This resulted in a high overall system efficiency of 97.0%, which is greater than previous designs.

Dreidimensionale Feldberechnung für elektrisch große Geometrien und ihre Anwendung für multifrequente Hochleistungsgyrotrons

At the Research Center Karlsruhe (Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe) high-power millimeter wave sources, so called gyrotrons, are developed. Gyrotrons generate radio frequency (RF) in the frequency range of a few gigahertz up to a couple of hundred gigahertz at power levels up to megawatts. The RF-output coupling is done by an internal quasi-optical mode converter. It focuses the millimeter waves to a pencil like beam. This report deals with the simulation of quasi-optical mode converters, which are large compared to the wavelength. For a fast simulation inside the waveguide the method of coupled modes is used and in free space the propagation is done by the Kirchhoff diffraction integral. To avoid approximations and to enhance accuracy a three-dimensional simulation method based on the electric field integral equation (EFIE) was developed. The performance of this method will be shown with an analysis of a quasi-optical mode converter of a 118 GHz TE 22,6 -gyrotron. The second focus of this work is the optimization of a broadband quasi-optical mode converter in the frequency range of 105 GHz to 143 GHz. The optimization was done with the fast simulation methods, which were mentioned above. Beside a high Gaussian mode content of the output beam for every frequency, the mode converter was optimized for a Brewster angle window. A Brewster window has no dependency on the frequency for the transmitted wave beam, but the useable aperture of the window is much smaller than for a mono-frequent window. By optimization the stray radiation could be reduced to two to three percent depending on the cavity mode with a Gaussian mode content of more than 90%. The work is based on a dissertation which was done at the Institut fur Hochleistungs-impuls- und Mikrowellentechnik at the Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe and accepted by the University of Karlsruhe (TH), Germany.

Development of a 140-ghz 1-mw continuous wave gyrotron for the w7-x stellarator

The development of high-power gyrotrons (118 GHz, 140 GHz) in continuous-wave (CW) operation for heating nuclear fusion plasmas has been in progress for several years in a joint collaboration between different European research institutes and industrial partners. The 140-GHz gyrotron being under development for the installation at the W7-X stellarator now under construction at the IPP Greifswald, Germany, operates in the TE/sub 28,8/ mode and is equipped with a diode type magnetron injection electron gun, an improved beam tunnel, a high mode-purity low-Ohmic loss cavity, an optimized nonlinear up-taper, a highly efficient internal quasi-optical mode converter, a single-stage depressed collector and an edge-cooled, single disk CVD-diamond window. RF measurements at pulse duration of a few milliseconds yielded an RF output power of 1.15 MW at a beam current of 40 A and a beam voltage of 84 kV. Depressed collector operation has been possible up to decelerating voltages of 33 kV without any reduction of the output power. Long pulse operation (10 s at 1 MW) was possible without any signs of a limitation caused by the tube. For this output power the efficiency of the tube could be increased from about 30% without to about 50% with depression voltage. The best performance reached so far has produced an energy per pulse as high as 90 MJ (power 0.64 MW, pulse length 140 s) which is the highest value achieved in gyrotrons operating at this frequency and power level. The pulse-length limitations so far are mainly due to the external system.

European high-power CW gyrotron development for ECRH systems

The development of high power CW gyrotrons for ECRH heating of fusion relevant plasmas has been in progress for several years in a joint collaboration between different European research institutes and an industrial partner. Two development are on going, aiming, respectively, towards a 0.51-MW–210-s gyrotron at 118 GHz for the tokamaks TCV of CRPP (2 s pulse length) and Tore Supra of CEA (210 s pulse length), and towards a 1 MW-CW gyrotron at 140 GHz for the stellarator W7-X under construction in Greifswald. Series 118 GHz gyrotrons have been delivered to CRPP and CEA. Long pulse results (15.5 s at 400 kW) as well as considerations on power modulation capabilities of the tube and on long pulse effects are discussed. In a second development program, a 1-MW/CW 140 GHz gyrotron with a CVD diamond window and a single-stage depressed collector has been designed and constructed as a first prototype for the 10-MW ECRH (Elecron Cyclotion Resonance Heating) system of the new stellarator experiment Wendelstein 7-X of IPP Greifswald/Germany. The gyrotron operates in the TE 28,8 cavity mode and provides a linearly polarized, TEM 0,0 Gaussian RF beam. It is composed of a diode MIG gun, an improved beam tunnel, a high-mode purity low-ohmic loss cavity, an optimized non-linear up-taper, a highly efficient internal quasi-optical mode converter employing an improved launcher together with one quasi-elliptical and two beam shaping reflectors, a large single stage depressed collector at ground potential with a beam sweeping magnet, and a horizontal RF output.

Development of a 140 GHz, 1 MW, Continuous Wave Gyrotron for the W7-X Stellarator

The development of high power gyrotrons in continuous wave (CW) operation for heating of plasmas used in nuclear fusion research has been in progress for several years in a joint collaboration between different European research institutes and industrial partners. A recent RD program aims at the development of 140 GHz gyrotrons with an output power of 1 MW in CW operation for the 10 MW ECRH system of the new stellarator plasma physics experiment Wendelstein 7-X at IPP Greifswald, Germany. The work is performed under responsibility of FZK Karlsruhe in collaboration with CRPP Lausanne, IPF Stuttgart, IPP Garching and Greifswald, CEA Cadarache and TED Velizy. The gyrotron operates in the TE28.8 mode and is equipped with a diode type magnetron injection electron gun, an improved beam tunnel, a high-mode purity low-ohmic loss cavity, an optimized non-linear up-taper, a highly efficient internal quasi-optical mode converter, a single-stage depressed collector and an edge-cooled, single disk CVD-diamond window. RF measurements at pulse duration of a few milliseconds yielded an RF output power of 1.15 MW at a beam current of 40 A and a beam voltage of 84 kV. Depressed collector operation has been possible up to decelerating voltages of 33 kV without any reduction of the output power, and an efficiency of 49 % has been achieved. Long pulse operation of the gyrotron was possible with an output power of 1 MW at a pulse length of 10 s without any signs of a limitation caused by the tube. For this output power the efficiency of the tube could be increased from about 30 % without depression voltage to about 50% with depression voltage. At an output power of 640 kW, a pulse length of 140 s could be achieved.