Effect of cyclotron resonance on ‘hot’ dispersion in a staggered double metallic grating sheet beam travelling wave tube

Based on the beam wave synchronous interaction in transverse and longitudinal directions at the same time and starting from Maxwell’s equation and linear Vlasov equation, the beam–wave interaction ‘hot’ dispersion equation considering both cyclotron resonance and Cherenkov resonance in a staggered double metallic grating traveling wave tube is deduced.Through the reasonable selection for geometric and electrical parameters, the numerical calculation and analysis of the ‘hot’ dispersion equation shows that the beam–wave interaction gain and frequency band with the cyclotron resonance enhancement effect are higher than those with only Cherenkov resonance radiation.

Theoretical research on the performance of a practical helix travelling wave tube

On the basis of a rigorous field theory, two different physical models of attenuator and sever have been proposed. One is named High attenuation （HATT） model in which both attenuator and sever are considered as a unified attenuator, but the sever is regarded as an area of very high loss; the other is called Sever and attenuator （SATT） model in which the sever is modelled as a drift area in which the electric and magnetic fields both vanish. A complex function is derived and potential sinking effect is also considered. Thus, a set of more practical self-consistent equations of nonlinear beam-wave interaction is formulated. Simulations are carried out under the conditions of the two different physical models, and the simulation results are compared with the experimental data. The results show that in the case of single signal drive, the unknown second harmonic should be included for predicting the saturated output power. It is also evident that the SATT model and the HATT model predict the same physical nature, whereas the results predicted by the HATT model are much closer to the experimental data than those obtained from the SATT model. Therefore, these results provide a strong theoretical basis for designing broadband and high gain helix travelling wave tubes.

Analysis of the axial electric field in a plasma-loaded- helix travelling wave tube

A helix type slow wave structure filled with plasma is immersed in a strong longitudinal magnetic field. Taking into account the effect of the plasma and the dielectric, the system is separated radially into three regions. By means of the sheath model and Maxwell equation, the distribution of the electromagnetic field is established. Using the boundary conditions of each region, the dispersion relation of the slow wave structure is derived. The trend of change for the radial profile of the axial electric field is analysed respectively in different plasma densities, plasma column radius and dielectric constant by numerical computation. Some useful results are obtained on the basis of the discussion.

AN INNER-FEEDBACK-STYLE TRAVELING-WAVE TUBE OSCILLATOR

A new concept of inner-feedback-style traveling wave tube oscillator, which is based on a traveling-wave tube having a partial reflector located at near the junction between the slow-wave structure and the output coupler and a mechanical tuner connected to the input coupler, is proposed. Simulations by CHIPIC code show that the inner-feedback-style traveling wave tube oscillator having 100W of power, about 10% of electron efficiency and a tunable band of 73.35-73.91 GHz may be achieved. Compared with Backward Wave Oscillators (BWOs), the new devices have similar ability for tuning, and have much higher electron efficiency, suggesting much more potential as a Terahertz source.

Design and development of high linearity millimeter wave traveling-wave tube for satellite communications

The linearity of the traveling-wave tube is a very important characteristic for a modern communication system. To improve the linearity of the traveling-wave tube at no expense of the saturated output power and overall efficiency, a modified pitch profile combined with a small adjustment of operating parameters is proposed. The optimal design of the helix circuit is evaluated theoretically by a large signal analysis, and the experimental test is also carried out to make a comparison of performance between the novel and original designed traveling-wave tubes. The experiments show that the saturated output powers and efficiencies of these two tubes are close to each other, while the linearity of the traveling-wave tube is obviously improved. The total phase shift and AM/PM conversion at saturation of the novel tube, averaged over the operating band, are only 30.6°/d B and 2.5°/d B, respectively, which are 20.1°/d B and 1.6°/d B lower than those of the original tube, respectively. Moreover, the third-order intermodulation of the novel tube is up to 2.2 d Bc lower than that of the original tube.

A novel slotted helix slow-wave structure for high power Ka-band traveling-wave tubes

A novel slotted helix slow-wave structure （SWS） is proposed to develop a high power, wide-bandwidth, and high reliability millimeter-wave traveling-wave tube （TWT）. This novel structure, which has higher heat capacity than a conven- tional helix SWS, evolves from conventional helix SWS with three parallel rows of rectangular slots made in the outside of the helix tape. In this paper, the electromagnetic characteristics and the beam-wave interaction of this novel structure operating in the Ka-band are investigated. From our calculations, when the designed beam voltage and beam current are set to be 18.45 kV and 0.2 A, respectively, this novel circuit can produce over 700-W average output power in a frequency range from 27.5 GHz to 32.5 GHz, and the corresponding conversion efficiency values vary from 19% to 21.3%, and the maximum output power is 787 W at 30 GHz.

A staggered double vane circuit for a W-band traveling-wave tube amplifier

Based on the combination of a staggered double vane slow wave structure （SWS） and round electron beam, a 200-W W-band traveling-wave tube （TWT） amplifier is studied in this paper. The main advantages of round beam operation over the sheet beam is that the round beam can be formed more easily and the focus requirement can be dramatically reduced. It operates in the fundamental mode at the first spatial harmonic. The geometric parameters are optimized and a transition structure for the slow wave circuit is designed which can well match the signal that enters into and goes out from the tube. Then a TWT model is established and the particle-in-cell （PIC） simulation results show that the tube can provide over 200-W output power in a frequency range of 88 GHz-103 GHz with a maximum power of 289 W at 95 GHz, on the assumption that the input power is 0.1 W and the beam power is 5.155 kW. The corresponding conversion efficiency and gain at 95 GHz are expected to be 5.6% and 34.6 dB, respectively. Such amplifiers can potentially be used in high power microwave-power-modules （MPM） and for other portable applications.

A three-dimensional time-dependent theory for helix traveling wave tubes in beam-wave interaction

This paper presents a three-dimensional time-dependent nonlinear theory of helix traveling wave tubes for beam- wave interaction. The radio frequency electromagnetic fields are represented as the superposition of azimuthally sym- metric waves in a vacuum sheath helix. Coupling impedance is introduced to the electromagnetic field equations＇ stimulating sources, which makes the theory easier and more flexible to realize. The space charge fields are calculated by electron beam space-charge waves expressed as the superposition solutions of Helmholtz equations. The focusing forces due to either a solenoidal field or a periodic permanent magnetic field is also included. The dynamical equations of electrons are Lorentz equations associating with electromagnetic fields, focusing fields and space-charge fields. The numerically simulated results of a tube are presented.

Nonlinear time-dependent simulation of helix traveling wave tubes

A one-dimensional nonlinear time-dependent theory for helix traveling wave tubes is studied. A generalized electromagnetic field is applied to the expression of the radio frequency field. To simulate the variations of the high frequency structure, such as the pitch taper and the effect of harmonics, the spatial average over a wavelength is substituted by a time average over a wave period in the equation of the radio frequency field. Under this assumption, the space charge field of the electron beam can be treated by a space charge wave model along with the space charge coefficient. The effects of the radio frequency and the space charge fields on the electrons are presented by the equations of the electron energy and the electron phase. The time-dependent simulation is compared with the frequency-domain simulation for a helix TWT, which validates the availability of this theory.

An Open Rectangular Waveguide Grating for Millimeter-Wave Traveling-Wave Tubes

Millimeter-wave traveling-wave tube （TWT） prevails nowadays as the amplifier for radar, communication and electronic countermeasures. The rectangular waveguide grating is a promising all-metal interaction circuit for the millimeter-wave TWT with advantages of high power capacity, fine heat dissipation, scalability to smaller dimen- sions for shorter wavelengths, compact structure and robust performance. Compared with the traditional closed structure, the open rectangular waveguide grating （ORWG） has wider bandwidth, lower cut-off frequency, and higher machining precision for higher working frequencies due to the open transverse. It is a potential structure that can work in the millimeter wave and even Terahertz band. The rf characteristics including dispersion and interaction impedance are investigated by both theoretic calculation and software simulation. The influences of the structure parameters are also discussed and compared, and the theoretical results agree well with the simula- tion results. Based on the study, the ORWG will favor the design of a broadband and high-power millimeter-wave TWT.

DESIGN OF HIGH VOLTAGE POWER CONVERTER FOR TRAVELING WAVE TUBE AMPLIFIER

Traveling Wave Tubes(TWTs) are widely used in the radar and communications system as RF power amplifiers. A highly sophisticated power supply is required by TWT. In order to meet the severe requirements of Traveling Wave Tube Amplifier(TWTA), a novel two-stage topology high voltage converter for TWTA is proposed.The converter is based on Zero-Voltage Switching and Zero-Current Switching(ZVS/ZCS) resonant techniques. The high voltage converter operation principles are investigated and major features of the converter are discussed. The power switching mode of ZVS/ZCS is obtained. The experimental results show that the converter has good soft switching characteristics. Compared to the conventional hard switched Pulse Width Modulation(PWM) techniques, the high efficiency and low ripple of the converter for TWTA are realized. The efficiency of High Voltage Electronic Power Conditioners(HV-EPC) over 93.5% under the condition of 38~46 V input voltage and 260~300 W input power. The switching frequency of first-stage(preregulator) of HV-EPC is 89 k Hz and the switching frequency of second-stage(postregulator) is 44.5 k Hz. The highest output voltage of the HV-EPC is helix voltage which is about –6.8 kV. It is especially suitable for TWTA utilized in space satellite applications due to its high switching frequency and high power density.

An open-styled dielectric-lined azimuthally periodic circular waveguide for a millimeter wave traveling-wave tube

An open-styled dielectric-lined azimuthMly periodic circular waveguide （ODLAP-CW） for a millimeter-wave traveling-wave tube （TWT） is proposed, which is a modified form of a dielectric-lined azimuthally periodic circular waveguide （DLAP-CW）. The slow-wave characteristics of the open-styled DLAP-CW are studied by using the spatial harmonics method, which includes normalized phase velocity and interaction impedance. The complicated dispersion equations are numerically solved with MATLAB and the results are in good agreement with the simulation results obtained from HFSS. The influence of structural parameters on the RF properties is investigated based on our theory. The numerical results show that the optimal thickness of the metal rod can increase the interaction impedance, with the dielectric constant held fixed. Finally, the slow-wave characteristics and transmission properties of an open-styled structure are compared with those of the DLAP-CW. The results validate that the mode competition is eliminated in the improved structure with only a slight influence on the dispersion characteristics, which may significantly improve the stability of an open-styled DLAP-CW-based TWT, and the interaction efficiency is also improved.

Design of a re-entrant double-staggered ladder circuit for V-band coupled-cavity traveling-wave tubes

The re-entrant double-staggered ladder slow-wave structure is employed in a high-power V-band coupled-cavity traveling-wave tube. This structure has a wide bandwidth, a moderate interaction impedance, and excellent thermal dissipation properties, as well as easy fabrication. A well-matched waveguide coupler is proposed for the structure. Combining the design of attenuators, a full-scale three-dimensional circuit model for the V-band coupled-cavity traveling- wave tube is constructed. The electromagnetic characteristics and the beam wave interaction of this structure are investigated. The beam current is set to be 100 mA, and the cathode voltage is tuned from 16.8 kV to 15.8 kV. The calculation results show that this tube can produce a saturated average output power over 100 W with an instantaneous bandwidth greater than 1.25 GHz in the frequency ranging from 58 GHz to 62 GHz. The corresponding gain and electronic efficiency can reach over 32 dB and 6.5%, respectively.

T/R双模微波功率模块技术及其应用

微波功率模块(MPM)是真空电子器件和固态电子器件组合而成的一种新型微波功率器件,具有频率高、频带宽、功率大、体积重量小等特点,它使常规行波管的应用变得更加便利和广泛。现代战争向雷达、电子战综合一体化方向发展,这就要求功放既能工作在高峰值功率、低占空比的高模工作方式,也能工作在低峰值功率、准连续波的低模工作方式,针对这一需求,结合电子系统收发共孔径的要求,提出了T/R双模MPM技术。T/R双模MPM技术的核心是T/R双模行波管,基于三端口双向T/R行波管,通过在慢波系统的衰减器附近设置一个耦合口,实现行波管的信号反向接收功能;通过T/R双模行波管设计、双模放大均衡组件、双调制栅极电源等技术实现MPM的双模双向功能。T/R双模MPM应用前景广阔,特别是在基于无人机平台的作战应用中的具有明显优势。

Q波段宽带螺旋线行波管输能系统研究

针对Q波段宽带螺旋线行波管所需要的低损耗、低反射输能系统,采用后馈式单脊过渡波导和盒型窗方案,优化设计了过渡波导阻抗变换结构、内导体尺寸和螺旋线大螺距过渡结构,得到33~50 GHz频带内驻波系数小于2的输能系统,并成功应用在Q波段宽带多用途螺旋线行波管中。

耳型折叠波导慢波结构W波段行波管

毫米波行波管具有大功率、宽频带、高增益等特点,广泛用于雷达、高速通信、电子对抗等现代军事装备中。为提高折叠波导耦合阻抗并考虑工程应用性,提出一种耳型折叠波导新型慢波结构。与常规矩形波导相比,工作频带内耦合阻抗提高30%以上,损耗降低10%。研制的耳型折叠波导W波段行波管,在工作电压21.9 kV,电流210 mA,占空比为5%时,10.8 GHz带宽内输出功率大于192 W,峰值功率达278 W,电子效率和增益分别达到6.3%和44.6 dB,行波管工作稳定。

0.345 THz微电真空FWG-TWT的电子光学系统

对于太赫兹微电真空折叠波导行波管(FWG-TWT)放大器,高流通率是试验测试中首先需要达到的技术指标,是器件连续工作时高效束-波互作用的前提。电子光学系统包括电子枪、周期永磁聚焦系统(PPM)和收集极。本文通过对电子枪的高品质束流的产生、PPM对束流的聚焦2个方面研究束流的直流流通率。首先依据Vaughan迭代综合法初步选定电子枪的基本结构尺寸,然后通过粒子跟踪程序及PIC程序对电子枪的结构参数进行仿真优化,初步实现了0.345 THz FWG-TWT放大器所需的束流品质;进行了电子光学系统的电子枪和PPM的一体化数值模拟,研究了电子的直流流通率,最终流通率模拟结果达到100%。

D波段行波管电子光学系统设计

提出一种用于D波段行波管的电子光学系统设计方案,包括电子枪和永磁聚焦系统,并进行了验证。电子枪采用经典皮尔斯电子枪结构,阴极发射面的外层设置阴极套壳,抑制阴极边缘杂散发射;采用圆柱形控制极替代锥形控制极,同时在聚焦极加负偏压,调节电子注的压缩状态。所设计电子枪工作电压为19 kV,提供电子注电流57 mA,注腰半径为0.068 mm,射程为14.9 mm。为在半径0.15 mm的电子通道中稳定地聚焦和传输电子注,永磁聚焦系统采用周期永磁聚焦系统。峰值磁场为布里渊磁场的2.9倍,增加了电子注刚性。模拟结果显示,传输的电子注最大波动半径小于0.1 mm。按所设计的电子光学系统加工组装了试验流通短管,测试结果显示电子注电流为49.83 mA,收集极电流为49.6 mA,对应电子注流通率达到99.5%,实现了设计目标。

能散度与发射度模块在太赫兹FWTWT模拟中的应用

研制了三维全电磁粒子模拟大规模并行程序NEPTUNE3D的能散度和发射度模块,主要用于评估电子出射速度和方向分布对太赫兹折叠波导行波管(FWTWT)性能的影响。将能散度和发射度模块应用到0.22 THz的FWTWT器件粒子模拟中,结果表明:能散度主要通过改变器件束压范围,使其偏离束波互作用共振电压范围,导致器件性能下降;发射度反映电子发射角的发散,同时影响纵向与横向电子速度,电子横向速度的增加导致其更易碰撞通道内壁,使电子总数下降,导致器件性能下降;若束压保持不变,电子横向速度的增加势必导致轴向速度的减小,破坏束波同步条件,导致器件性能进一步下降。

行波管饱和增益平坦度测试方法的改进

饱和增益平坦度是行波管的一项重要指标,其数值代表传输信号的失真程度,饱和增益平坦度测试的准确性一直受到重点关注。对一支Ka频段行波管分别采用逐点法和网络分析仪法进行测试,发现双端口校准不能完全消除输入功率的波动,但测试结果会发生明显变化。改进测试方法后,饱和增益平坦度测试结果由0.58降低至0.12 dB,与逐点法测试结果接近,表明饱和增益平坦度测试需要在双端口校准的基础上,进一步对输入功率进行校准和修正。