High efficiency, phase-locked operation of the harmonic-multiplying inverted gyrotwystron oscillator

The inverted gyrotwystron (phigtron) is a millimeter wave frequency-doubling amplifier that has been demonstrated to produce over 300 kW peak power at twice the input frequency (centered at f_in =16.85 GHz and f_out=33.7 GHz) over a 0.5% bandwidth with a saturated gain of 30 dB and efficiency greater than 35%. The device has also been studied both theoretically and experimentally in a different operating regime where frequency-doubled, phase-locked oscillation is possible. A signal, injected via a fundamental gyro-traveling wave tube input section, modulated a 55 kV, 10 A electron beam. After transit through a drift section, the prebunched electron beam produced phase-locked, second harmonic oscillations in a TE₀₃ mode output cavity. RF output centered at either of two frequencies, 34.42 and 34.62 GHz, with a maximum output power of 180 kW, an efficiency of 32% and a locked signal gain of 35 dB was measured. A theoretical prediction of locking bandwidth, a design overview, and the experimental results are presented followed by a summary and discussion of the results