EXPERIMENTAL MEASUREMENTS ON A 100 GHZ FREQUENCY TUNABLE QUASI-OPTICAL GYROTRON

Experiments on a 100 GHz quasioptical (QO) gyrotron operating at the fundamental (ω = Ωce) are described. Powers larger than 90 kW at an efficiency of about 12% were achieved. Depending on the electron beam parameters, the frequency spectrum of the output can be either single moded or multimoded. One of the main advantages of the QO gyrotron over the conventional gyrotron is its continuous frequency tunability. Various techniques to tune the output frequency have been tested, such as changing the mirror separation, the beam voltage, or the main magnetic field. Within the limitations of the present setup, 5% tunability was achieved. The QO gyrotron designed for operation at the fundamental frequency exhibits simultaneous emission at 100 GHz (fundamental) and 200 GHz (second harmonic). For a beam current of 4 A, 20% of the total rf power is emitted at the second harmonic. © 1990 American Institute of Physics.