A high-power two stage traveling-wave tube amplifier

Journal Article · Mon Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1991 · Journal of Applied Physics; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.350322· OSTI ID:5467924

Shiffler, D; Nation, J A; Schachter, L; Ivers, J D; Kerslick, G S ^[1]

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1. Laboratory of Plasma Studies and School of Electrical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853 (USA)

Results are presented on the development of a two stage high-efficiency, high-power 8.76-GHz traveling-wave tube amplifier. The work presented augments previously reported data on a single stage amplifier and presents new data on the operational characteristics of two identical amplifiers operated in series and separated from each other by a sever. Peak powers of 410 MW have been obtained over the complete pulse duration of the device, with a conversion efficiency from the electron beam to microwave energy of 45%. In all operating conditions the severed amplifier showed a sideband''-like structure in the frequency spectrum of the microwave radiation. A similar structure was apparent at output powers in excess of 70 MW in the single stage device. The frequencies of the sidebands'' are not symmetric with respect to the center frequency. The maximum, single frequency, average output power was 210 MW corresponding to an amplifier efficiency of 24%. Simulation data is also presented that indicates that the short amplifiers used in this work exhibit significant differences in behavior from conventional low-power amplifiers. These include finite length effects on the gain characteristics, which may account for the observed narrow bandwidth of the amplifiers and for the appearance of the sidebands. It is also found that the bunching length for the beam may be a significant fraction of the total amplifier length.

• OSTI ID: 5467924
• Journal Information: Journal of Applied Physics; (USA), Journal Name: Journal of Applied Physics; (USA) Vol. 70:1; ISSN 0021-8979; ISSN JAPIA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640301* -- Atomic
Molecular & Chemical Physics-- Beams & their Reactions
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
AMPLIFICATION
AMPLIFIERS
BEAM BUNCHING
BEAM DYNAMICS
DESIGN
EFFICIENCY
ELECTRON TUBES
ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT
EQUIPMENT
GAIN
MICROWAVE AMPLIFIERS
MICROWAVE EQUIPMENT
MICROWAVE TUBES
OPERATION
RELIABILITY
TRAVELLING WAVE TUBES