Effect of Reflection on Mode Competition and Multi-Frequency Oscillation in a High-Power Sub-THz Gyrotron: Experimental Observation and Theoretical Analysis

Equi-distantly distributed multi-peak frequency spectrum was observed in a high-power 300-GHz band gyrotron for the case of strong reflection off the vacuum window. An oscillation mode different from the design mode can oscillate by adjusting the magnetic field in the cavity. However, a large fraction of the output wave is reflected by the vacuum window. The reflected wave returns to the cavity through an internal mode converter. The azimuthal rotating direction of the reflected wave is opposite to that of the oscillating mode. A theoretical calculation of mode competition between the oscillating co-rotating mode and the counter-rotating mode originating from the reflected wave very well reproduces the observed frequency spectrum. The multi-peak frequency spectrum stems from periodic amplitude oscillation caused by the mode competition between the co-rotating mode and the counter-rotating mode. The frequency interval between the peaks is not simply decided by the round-trip time between the cavity and the vacuum window but determined by the period of the amplitude oscillation.