Potentials of the Clinotron for High-Power High-Frequency Generation

In this paper, a review is presented of both experimental and theoretical studies of the clinotron, which is an electron tube introduced for efficient operation in millimeter and submillimeter wavebands. Clinotron tubes already developed and fabricated for these wavebands are described, and the basic principles of their design and operation are discussed. Theoretical models of the clinotron are considered, and the results of modelling starting current conditions, steady-state oscillations, space-charge effects, and temperature regimes are considered. An analysis of the potentials of the clinotron for a further increase of efficiency, output power, and bandwidth of operation is presented, and promising ways for achieving these goals are outlined.