Intrinsic resonance in gyrotron using non-resonant RF structure

Abstract

Gyromonotrons are typically believed to rely on the convective interaction between the co-propagating beam and wave, with the extended energy-exchanging process stemming from the external feedback. However, numerous studies focusing on both transverse electric (TE) mode and transverse magnetic (TM) mode gyrotrons have consistently shown that beam–wave interactions in weak-feedback systems or even in uniform tubes without any structural feedback can yield a theoretical beam efficiency of more than 30% with major forward-wave output during near-cutoff operation, which is the typical operating condition for gyromonotrons. These intriguing findings raise questions about the actual feedback mechanism of gyromonotrons. In this article, comparative studies on the linear and nonlinear behaviors of uniform-tube gyrotron are investigated. The forward and backward waves are observed to co-generate and exhibit similar characteristics of ultra-slow group velocity under near-cutoff operation. This situation allows the as-generated forward wave to modulate the fresh beam, establishing a new backward-wave-like internal feedback loop. Additionally, the quasi-degenerate nature of the bi-directional propagating waves ensures their intrinsic in-phase relationship. The consequent constructive interference enables the uniform tube to function as a high-Q resonator. These findings are found to be independent of the choices of TE or TM modes, providing valuable insights into the underlying interaction mechanism of gyrotron devices.