The wide band high power traveling wave tubes (TWTs) employed in radar, communication systems, etc. are always facing the backward wave oscillation (BWO) problem. However, it takes much time and computer resource to simulate BWO by the large electromagnetic software. Thus, several parametric models are developed to solve the problem faster. Most of those models do not discuss the saturated oscillation power. In this paper, a three-dimensional (3D) nonlinear backward-wave interaction model is presented, by which the BWO phenomenon can be accurately studied in TWTs and the oscillation power is also analyzed. This model is established with the equation of 3D excitation fields combined with 3D motion equations and 3D space charge force. The oscillation frequencies and the start-oscillation lengths are calculated by one-dimensional (1D) and 3D models, respectively, and they are carefully compared in the cases of with and without the space charge force, indicating that the space charge force in 1D model is much weaker than in 3D model. The reason for that is the model of current density for space charge model in 1D model is supposed to be proportional to particle radius, but the one in 3D model is almost uniform, which is indicated by 3D beam trace distribution analysis. The BWO saturated powers and the oscillation frequencies are studied by this nonlinear 3D backward-wave interaction model. The simulation results show that the BWO saturated power increases as the beam-wave interaction length extends before many trajectories intercept the helix. While the oscillation frequencies decrease, the large saturated power supplies more energy to the beam at the very beginning in beam-wave interaction starting region. Then the BWO suppression induced by the magnetic field effect of the beam ripple is also under consideration. As the magnetic force increases, not only some cross area of interaction beam is suppressed, but also the interaction impedance of -1 space harmonic decreases. So increasing magnetic field strength can obviously reduce BWO, while the effect on forward wave interaction should be balanced. Finally, a Ka-band tube is used to validate the 1D and 3D nonlinear backward-wave interaction models. The BWO frequencies at different voltages are compared among the experimental results and the calculations by 1D and 3D models. The results from the 3D model in the test voltage range are 4.8% lower than the experimental data, while the difference from the results of the 1D model is 6.7%. The 3D model seems to be more accurate than the 1D model.
Traveling wave tube amplifiers are one of the most widely used vacuum electronic devices which are employed in various applications, in the areas of such as radar, wireless communication and electronic countermeasures system. Among traveling wave tubes, space-borne helix traveling wave tubes which are of high power, high efficiency, high reliability, long life and radiation hardened, are extensively used in satellite transmitter, data communication system and global positioning system. With the rapid development of the multiphase digital modulation schemes, communication systems are placing greater demands on the output power, electronic efficiency and nonlinear distortion characteristics of space-borne helix traveling wave tubes. However, the nonlinear beam-wave interaction will lead to the generation of harmonics, and thus reduces the output power and electronic efficiency. The harmonics can also act to create beats with the fundamental wave, and thus generate these beat frequencies which are commonly known as intermodulation products. As a result, the bit-error-rate will be increased and the system performance will be compromised. Therefore, the generation of harmonics is of significant current interest in space-borne helix traveling wave tubes. Understanding this effect provides a strong motivation for nonlinear analysis of a helix traveling wave tube. In this paper, a continuous electron phase distribution is obtained by treating the discrete electron beam as a charge fluid based on the Lagrangian theory. Then, to obtain a nonlinear Eulerian theory considering harmonic interaction, the electron phases in Lagrangian theory have been expanded into a series of harmonic components. Considering the 0th component and 1st component of the electron phases only and integrating over the initial phase distribution with the help of the relation of Bessel function, the nonlinear Eulerian theory considering harmonic interaction is established. The nonlinear Eulerian theory considering harmonic interaction is compared to a Lagrangian theory on a set of traveling wave tube parameters which are based on a single section of L-and C-bands traveling wave tubes. It is found that the nonlinear Eulerian theory considering harmonic interaction agrees accords well with the Lagrangian theory before the saturation effect occurs. But, it begins to make a difference near saturation point where the electron overtaking happens. The maximum error in gain between the nonlinear Eulerian theory considering harmonic interaction and the Lagrangian theory is less than 4% at 1 dB gain compression point. So the present nonlinear Eulerian theory considering harmonic interaction can effectively describe harmonic generation at 1 dB gain compression point. The simulation results validate the correctness and effectiveness of our nonlinear Eulerian theory considering harmonic interaction. In futuristic future efforts, it is hoped that the present nonlinear Eulerian theory considering harmonic interaction may provide insights into the behavioral mechanisms of nonlinear effects in space-borne helix traveling wave tubes.
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