Analysis and PIC simulation of a gyrotron travelling wave tube amplifier

Abstract

The analysis of a Ka-band gyrotron Travelling Wave Tube (gyro-TWT) amplifier using a uniform cylindrical waveguide as its interaction circuit has been presented for the TE01 mode of operation a self-consistent nonlinear analysis in the large signal regime. The analysis predicts that the saturated peak output power of ∼ 134 kW with a power conversion efficiency of ∼ 22.7 %. The saturated gain has been calculated as ∼ 41.3 dB for the amplifier driven by 72 kV, 8.2 A electron beam of a pitch factor 1.05. The critical interaction length of smooth wall uniform metal guide is found 10.7 cm for the stable amplifier operation. The form factor and the norm factor have also been estimated with the large signal non-linear code. Further, for 5% spread the amplifier develops the peak power of ∼ 128 kW with an electronic efficiency of ∼ 21.7 % and the gain of ∼ 41.07 dB. These results are found to be good harmony when the beam wave interaction is studied with a commercial 3-D electromagnetic particle in cell (PIC) code. The behaviour of the beam all over the length of the interaction circuit has been monitored by calculating its energy, momentum, phase, etc. with the help of a commercial PIC code and which also in good agreement with analytical results with 1% deviation. © 2013 SBMO/SBMag.