Zeroth radial modes of azimuthal surface waves in dense plasma-loaded, coaxial helix traveling-wave-tube-like waveguides

Abstract

An analytical model of coaxial traveling-wave-tube-like waveguides with plasma filling has been justified and utilized to analyze the eigenmodes. Very often, introducing plasma into vacuum electronic devices leads to essential advantages as compared with evacuated tubes. The cylindrical structure under the present consideration consists of a central dielectric rod, placed inside a plasma coaxial layer with a metallic helix sheath on its outer interface, and a metal screen separated from the plasma by another dielectric layer. The dispersion properties of electromagnetic waves propagating across the external axial static magnetic field in such traveling-wave-tube-like waveguides are studied and summarized. The presence of a dense plasma coaxial layer makes the media nontransparent for waves in the electron cyclotron frequency range. However, surface type electromagnetic waves can propagate in this case. These waves are called azimuthal surface waves (ASWs). The helix sheath causes coupling of ordinarily and extraordinarily polarized ASWs. The zeroth radial ASW modes have been found to be most dangerous for parasitic wave excitation in dense plasma-loaded, coaxial traveling-wave-tube-like waveguides.