Investigations of nonlinearities and multi-tone response in a broad band, high gain, helix traveling wave tube

A detailed fundamental examination of the nonlinearities and multi-tone response is being conducted on a high gain, broad band helix TWT. The greater understanding of the device´s nonlinear physics will be applied to ongoing investigations of improving TWT linearity and efficiency when simultaneously amplifying multiple signals (with both analog and digital modulation). The initial phase of the investigation entails full characterization of the Teledyne TWT in terms of gain, phase shift, and output spectra for a variety of input signals, including multi-tones. The experimental data will be compared to simulation predictions to elucidate the nonlinear physics as well as to ´benchmark´ the quantitative predictive capabilities of the codes.