Ronald M. Gilgenbach

Folded waveguide traveling-wave tube sources for terahertz radiation

Microfabricated folded waveguide traveling-wave tubes (TWTs) are potential compact sources of wide-band, high-power terahertz radiation. We present feasibility studies of an oscillator concept using an amplifier with delayed feedback. Simulations of a 560-GHz oscillator and experimental evaluation of the concept at 50 GHz are presented. Additionally, results from various fabrication methods that are under investigation, such as X-ray lithography, electroforming, and molding (LIGA), UV LIGA, and deep reactive ion etching are presented. Observations and measurements are reported on the generation of stable single-frequency oscillation states. On varying the feedback level, the oscillation changes from a stable single-frequency state at the threshold to multifrequency spectra in the overdriven state. Simulation and experimental results on amplifier characterization and dynamics of the regenerative TWT oscillator include spectral evolution and phase stability of the generated frequencies. The results of the experiment are in good agreement with the simulations.

Multipactor discharge on metals and dielectrics: Historical review and recent theories

This paper reviews the history of multipactor discharge theory, focusing on recent models of multipactor accessibility and saturation. Two cases are treated in detail: That of a first-order, two-surface multipactor, and that of a single-surface multipactor on a dielectric. In both cases, susceptibility curves are constructed to indicate the regions of external parameter space where multipactor is likely to occur, taking into account the dependence on surface materials, and the effects of space charge and cavity loading. In the case of a dielectric, multipactor is found to deliver about 1% of the rf power to the surface. The two cases are contrasted in light of experimental observations.

Microwave absorption on a thin film

With the use of a simple model, it is shown that a thin film of contaminant on a microwave window may absorb up to 50% of the incident power, even if the film thickness is only a small fraction of its resistive skin depth. This unexpectedly large amount of absorption is conjectured to have played a significant role in window failure. The temperature rise in a thin film is estimated.

Power deposited on a dielectric by multipactor

We use a simple transmission line model to evaluate the RF power deposited on a dielectric window by a multipactor discharge. The calculation employs Monte Carlo simulation, using realistic secondary electron yield curves as input, and taking into account the distributions in the emission velocities and emission angles of the secondary electrons. Beam loading on the external RF, as well as the evolution of the DC electric field due to dielectric charging, are also accounted for. It is found that the buildup of the multipactor space charge, rather than beam loading, causes saturation. Over a wide range of operating conditions and materials, it is found quite generally that the multipactor delivers on the order of 1 percent, or less, of the RF power to the dielectric. A simple estimate is given in support of this ratio, using the susceptibility diagram that was constructed from kinematic considerations. Comparison with experimental results is given.

Laser beam deflection as a probe of laser ablation of materials

Helium‐neon laser beam deflection is used to study excimer laser ablation of polymers and a YBa2 Cu3 O7−x superconductor. Density gradients above pulsed laser heated or ablated samples deflect the He‐Ne laser beam and this is measured using a position sensitive detector. The technique permits the determination of the laser fluence threshold for ablation both in a vacuum and in air, and the velocity of the ablation products in a vacuum. A model of the thermal deflection at low fluence was developed which enables measurements of thermal diffusivity of the air.

Dynamics of excimer laser‐ablated aluminum neutral atom plume measured by dye laser resonance absorption photography

We report the first dye laser resonance absorption photographs of a single species of aluminum ground‐state neutral atoms in the plume ablated from solid aluminum by KrF excimer laser radiation. Aluminum ground‐state neutral atoms were diagnosed by illuminating the ablated plume with a dye laser tuned to the 32P1/2–42S1/2 transition at 394.4 nm. Measurements have been performed in vacuum as well as in argon and air environments. Streaming velocities measured for neutral aluminum atoms in vacuum ranged from 0.5×106 cm/s at low excimer laser fluences of 1–2 J/cm2 to 3.4×106 cm/s at high fluences of 7 J/cm2. Dye laser resonance absorption photography measurements of ablated aluminum in argon and air showed slower expansion at 50 and 200 Torr, while observations at 760 Torr indicate turbulent mixing of aluminum neutrals near the surface. Differences between data in argon and air may be due to oxidation of neutral aluminum atoms.

Low-noise microwave magnetrons by azimuthally varying axial magnetic field

A technique has been demonstrated to significantly reduce the noise in microwave oven magnetrons. The technique employs permanent magnets to generate an azimuthally varying axial magnetic field. Noise measurements are reported which show dramatic reductions in the noise of kW oven magnetrons operating near 2.45 GHz. The noise reduction near the carrier is some 30 dB. Microwave sidebands are reduced or eliminated. Noise reduction occurs at all anode currents, but is particularly significant at low current near the start-oscillation condition.

Effects of an external magnetic field, and of oblique radio-frequency electric fields on multipactor discharge on a dielectric

This paper analyzes, separately, the effects of an external magnetic field, the rf magnetic field, and of an oblique rf electric field, on multipactor discharge on a dielectric. Using Monte Carlo simulation, we obtain the susceptibility diagram in terms of the magnetic field, the rf electric field, and the dc charging field for various dielectric materials. We find that a magnetic field parallel to either the rf electric field or the dc electric field does not qualitatively change the susceptibility diagram. However, an external magnetic field perpendicular to both the rf electric field and the dc electric field can significantly affect the susceptibility diagram. Thus oriented magnetic fields lower the upper susceptibility bound when the magnetic field strength is approximately equal to Bres[T]=0.036f(GHz), where f is the rf frequency. Both the lower and upper susceptibility boundary may be raised significantly by a large external magnetic field, B≫Bres. Susceptibility to single surface multipactor is gr...

Gyrotron‐backward‐wave‐oscillator experiments utilizing a high current, high voltage, microsecond electron accelerator

We report the first gyrotron‐backward‐wave‐oscillator experiments to produce high power (tube power of ∼1–8 MW), long‐pulse (0.3–1.2 μs) microwaves at high currents (0.1–2 kA) and high voltages (650–750 kV). Experiments were performed in the TE11 fundamental backward‐wave mode, with efficiencies of ∼1%–2%. Mode competition was observed which is believed to originate from the TE21 absolute instability.

Cathode priming of a relativistic magnetron

A cathode priming technique of a relativistic magnetron is analyzed via a three-dimensional particle-in-cell simulation. By imposing a threefold azimuthal variation on the emitting cathode of a six-cavity relativistic magnetron, the electrons are prebunched at birth. This leads to fast startup of the pi mode with three electron spokes. Suppression of unwanted modes during startup is observed in the simulation.