Nikita M. Ryskin

Low-voltage operation of Ka-band folded waveguide traveling-wave tube

Low-voltage operation of millimeter-wave folded waveguide traveling-wave tube (TWT) was investigated using a 12 kV linear electron beam. Backward wave oscillation operated at second space harmonic was observed with output power of 20 W, linear tunability of 6% within 0.01 dB/MHz, and voltage-frequency stability of 0.56 MHz/V. The measured frequency and output power are in a good agreement with the predicted values using a particle-in-cell (PIC) code. In addition, backward-wave interaction at second-space harmonic as an amplifier was observed with a measured linear gain of 15 dB and a bandwidth of 0.3%. For forward wave interaction, a linear gain of 25 dB, bandwidth of 17%, and efficiency of 7% were predicted for fundamental space harmonic using a PIC code. Improvement in efficiency was predicted for the forward-wave amplifier where it was operated as an oscillator employing a delayed feedback. Output power was increased by 10 dB in the delayed feedback oscillator comparing with the backward-wave oscillator. The effect of period doubling due to potential fabrication inaccuracies on the stopband was studied experimentally. The folded waveguide TWT fabricated using the Lighographie, Galvanoformung, Abformung (LIGA) process operated at much higher frequencies is discussed.

Investigations on a microfabricated FWTWT oscillator

A vacuum tube oscillator fabricated by the deep etch X-ray lithography: lithographie, galvanoformung, abformung (LIGA) process was successfully developed for the first time. For the proof-of-concept experiment involving a delayed feedback oscillator, a folding-waveguide traveling-wave tube (FWTWT) was fabricated by computer numerical control milling in advance. With a 12.4-kV and 150-mA electron beam, a Ka-band FWTWT amplifier shows a linear gain of 25 dB and a bandwidth of 10%. Applying a delayed feedback scheme, the threshold feedback strengths for the onset of oscillation and for self-modulation were measured to be -30 dB and -16 dB, respectively. The optimum value of the feedback strength for the single-frequency oscillation at 32.5 GHz was about -18 dB with a net electronic efficiency of 6%. The LIGA-fabricated FWTWT circuit was constructed by a lithographic process using the synchrotron X-ray source at the Pohang Light Source. The resulting accuracy and average surface roughness were less than 10 and 1 /spl mu/m, respectively. The LIGA-fabricated Ka-band amplifier shows a linear gain of 15 dB and bandwidth of 1.7% with a 12.4-kV, 47-mA electron beam. The threshold for the onset of oscillation was about -11 dB and the optimum value of feedback strength for a single frequency oscillation at 35 GHz with a net electronic efficiency of 3.5% was about -8 dB.

Chaotic dynamics of delayed feedback klystron oscillator and its control by external signal

Complex nonlinear dynamics and applications of a microwave klystron oscillator with delayed feedback are studied in this paper on the basis of a system of delayed differential equations. Results of numerical simulation of self-modulation and chaotic regimes are presented, unveiling a complex bifurcation pattern in a wide range of parameters. Various types of chaotic attractors and transition to chaos scenarios are described. Experimental results for the five-cavity klystron oscillator are presented as well, showing good qualitative agreement with numerical simulations. Special attention is paid to application of the oscillator in direct chaotic communications. Information transmission using chaos shift keying (CSK) modulation and coherent reception is demonstrated via numerical simulation. The driving by an external signal is used to control the chaotic states of the transmitter oscillator for the purpose of generation of CSK basis functions.

Generation of chaotic radiation in a driven traveling wave tube amplifier with time-delayed feedback

The application of chaos in communications and radar offers new and interesting possibilities. This article describes investigations on the generation of chaos in a traveling wave tube (TWT) amplifier and the experimental parameters responsible for sustaining stable chaos. Chaos is generated in a TWT amplifier when it is made to operate in a highly nonlinear regime by recirculating a fraction of the TWT output power back to the input in a delayed feedback configuration. A driver wave provides a constant external force to the system making it behave like a forced nonlinear oscillator. The effects of the feedback bandwidth, intensity, and phase are described. The study illuminates the different transitions to chaos and the effect of parameters such as the frequency and intensity of the driver wave. The detuning frequency, i.e., difference frequency between the driver wave and the natural oscillation of the system, has been identified as being an important physical parameter for controlling evolution to chao...

Nonstationary behavior in a delayed feedback traveling wave tube folded waveguide oscillator

Folded waveguide traveling-wave tubes (FW TWT) are among the most promising candidates for powerful compact amplifiers and oscillators in millimeter and submillimeter wave bands. In this paper, the nonstationary behavior of a FW TWT oscillator with delayed feedback is investigated. Starting conditions of the oscillations are derived analytically. Results of numerical simulation of single-frequency, self-modulation (multifrequency) and chaotic generation regimes are presented. Mode competition phenomena, multistability and hysteresis are discussed.

Nonstationary Nonlinear Discrete Model of a Coupled-Cavity Traveling-Wave-Tube Amplifier

A nonstationary nonlinear model for numerical simulation of a coupled-cavity traveling-wave tube is described. The model is based on the nonstationary discrete theory of excitation of a periodic waveguide structure, when it is supposed that the beam-wave interaction takes place only inside the cavity gaps separated by drift spaces. Such an approach allows one to consider properly the dispersion of the slow-wave structure (SWS) and to simulate processes at any point inside the SWS passband, including interaction near cutoff and even beyond the passband. Results of numerical simulations of amplification in small-signal and large-signal regimes are presented. Self-excitation processes near cutoff frequency are studied. In particular, drive-induced self-excitation that takes place only in the presence of a sufficiently strong driving signal is discussed.

Theoretical analysis of cross-talking signals between counter-streaming electron beams in a vacuum tube oscillator

The basic theory of cross-talking signals between counter-streaming electron beams in a vacuum tube oscillator consisting of two two-cavity klystron amplifiers reversely coupled through input/output slots is theoretically investigated. Application of Kirchhoff’s laws to the coupled equivalent RLC circuit model of the device provides four nonlinear coupled equations, which are the first-order time-delayed differential equations. Analytical solutions obtained through linearization of the equations provide oscillation frequencies and thresholds of four fundamental eigenstates, symmetric/antisymmetric 0∕π modes. Time-dependent output signals are numerically analyzed with variation of the beam current, and a self-modulation mechanism and transition to chaos scenario are examined. The oscillator shows a much stronger multistability compared to a delayed feedback klystron oscillator owing to the competitions among more diverse eigenmodes. A fully developed chaos region also appears at a relatively lower beam cur...

Experimental study of complex dynamics in a delayed-feedback multiple-cavity klystron self-oscillator

The main characteristics of a delayed-feedback multiple-cavity klystron oscillator with various oscillation modes (single-frequency oscillations, as well as regular and chaotic self-modulations) are studied experimentally. Maps of dynamic modes on the beam current-accelerating voltage plane are presented. Basic scenarios of transition to chaos are considered. As the beam current and amount of feedback increase, regular and chaotic oscillation modes are found to alternate in a complex manner. It is shown that one can significantly increase the power of chaotic oscillations by appropriately tuning the control parameters.

Modeling and characterization of a slow-wave structure for a sheet-beam sub-THz TWT amplifier

Microfabricated sheet-beam traveling-wave tubes for THz and sub-THz operation have attracted a considerable interest. In this paper we discuss design issues of a double-vane slow-wave structure (SWS) for a 0.2 THz amplifier. A fast and accurate code for calculation of electrodynamic characteristics of the SWS is developed.

Mode Competition in a Two-Mode Gyrotron With Delayed Reflections

Effect of delayed reflection from the remote load on mode competition in a two-mode gyrotron is considered. A system of quasi-linear delay-differential equations for slowly varying amplitudes of the modes is derived. The most typical case of competition of two modes with close frequencies at the center of a generation zone is studied in detail. Transitions between different generation regimes with increasing of reflection of the spurious mode are investigated analytically and numerically at different values of delay.