Peniotron mode radiation in a 16 slotted cusptron oscillator

Summary form only given, as follows. A cusptron has been setup. It uses a 16-slot waveguide with a 50% opening and with a ratio of outer to inner radius b/a=1.3(a=1.98 cm). The peniotron mode is chosen because of its potentially high efficiency. We first use a particle simulation to choose the best suitable mode. Three modes (TE/sub 151/, TE/sub 71/, TE/sub 12/) are considered. The results show that our facility is capable to operate at TE/sub 12/(2/spl pi/ mode) or TE/sub 71/(/spl pi/ mode). TE/sub 151/ has much higher output frequency (/spl sim/32.25 GHz), but also requires much higher beam energy (/spl sim/345 KV) and magnetic field (/spl sim/1.28 KG). The frequencies associated with TE/sub 12/ and TE/sub 71/ are 9.72 GHz and 8.2 GHz respectively. The simulations provide the optimal operating parameters (i.e. beam energy and current, and the magnetic field). They are used to run the experiment. Small signals at the expected frequency regions have been observed. A fine tuning is in progress in order to achieve the expected output power level. The simulation and experiment results will be presented.