Relativistic backward wave oscillators: Theory and experiment

Author

Levush, B. ; Antonsen, T., Jr. ; Bromborsky, A. ; Lou, W.R. ; Abe, D. ; Miller, S. ; Carmel, Y. ; Rodgers, J. ; Granatstein, V. ; Destler, W.

Author_Institution

Lab. for Plasma Res., Maryland Univ., College Park, MD, USA

fYear

1991

fDate

8-11 Dec. 1991

Firstpage

775

Lastpage

778

Abstract

The linear and nonlinear theory of backward-wave oscillators (BWOs) is developed taking into account reflection of the electromagnetic wave at the boundaries of the slow wave structure. The effects of finite duration and rise time of the electron beam pulse on device operation are discussed. A series of low-current experiments attempting to measure the start current has been conducted. The main challenge in the experiments was to achieve BWO operation over a wide range of electron beam energy and current. Since for a particular gun geometry the variation in the beam current is limited, the authors built a number of electron guns which made it possible to cover a broad range of beam parameters.<>

Keywords

backward wave tubes; electron guns; microwave oscillators; relativistic electron beam tubes; 150 to 500 kV; 50 to 150 A; backward wave oscillators; boundary EM wave reflection; electron beam current; electron beam energy; electron beam pulse duration; electron beam pulse rise time; electron guns; gun geometry; linear theory; low-current experiments; nonlinear theory; relativistic BWO; slow wave structure; start current; Dispersion; Electromagnetic reflection; Electromagnetic scattering; Electron beams; Laboratories; Microwave oscillators; Optical reflection; Periodic structures; Plasma sources; Plasma waves;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

ieee

Conference_Titel

Electron Devices Meeting, 1991. IEDM '91. Technical Digest., International

Conference_Location

Washington, DC, USA

ISSN

0163-1918

Print_ISBN

0-7803-0243-5

Type

conf

DOI

10.1109/IEDM.1991.235309

Filename

235309