Coaxial cavity gyrotron with dual RF beam output

A 140-GHz, 1.5-MW, TE_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_-28,16 is converted into its degenerate whispering gallery mode TE_+76,2 using a rippled-wall mode converter. Then, this mode is transformed into two TEM₀₀ 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_-28,16 to TE_+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%