Nonlinear analysis of high-harmonic slotted gyro-TWT amplifier

A nonlinear self-consistent simulation code is employed to investigate the behavior of the slotted gyrotron traveling-wave amplifier (gyro-TWT), in which an axis-encircling electron beam synchronously interacts with a high-order azimuthal mode in a magnetron-type waveguide. The efficiency of a fourth-harmonic device with an ideal 60 kV, 5 A beam is shown to reach 30% for α≡ν_⊥/ν_z=2. The growth rate for the π mode is roughly 25% larger than for the 2π mode. The efficiency increases for lower voltage and the device is found to be moderately sensitive to the radial spread of the beam´s guiding center position and extremely sensitive to the axial velocity spread. For an ideal 60 kV, 5 A beam with α=1.5, the efficiency of a second-harmonic gyro-TWT is 42% and falls to 10% for an eighth-harmonic device. The design of a 35 GHz, 60 kV, 5A, α=1.5, eight-vane, fourth-harmonic gyro-TWT with 7% axial velocity spread is presented. It is predicted that this design will yield a peak output power of 90 kW, a peak efficiency of 30%, and 6.3% saturated bandwidth