[en] Spoof surface plasmons (SSPs) have many potential applications such as imaging and sensing, communications, innovative leaky wave antenna and many other passive devices in the microwave and terahertz (THz) spectrum. The extraordinary properties of SSPs (e.g. extremely strong near field, enhanced beam–wave interaction) make them especially attractive for developing novel THz electronic sources. SSP modes on doubly corrugated metal surfaces are investigated and analyzed both theoretically and numerically in this paper. The analytical SSP dispersion expressions of symmetric and anti-symmetric modes are obtained with a simplified modal field expansion method; the results are also verified by the finite integration method. Additionally, the propagation losses are also considered for real copper surfaces with a limited constant conductivity in a THz regime. It is shown that the asymptotical frequency of the symmetric mode at the Brillouin boundary decreases along with the decreased gap size between these two corrugated metal surfaces while the asymptotical frequency increases for the anti-symmetric mode. The anti-symmetric mode demonstrates larger propagation losses than the symmetric mode. Further, the losses for both symmetric and anti-symmetric modes decrease when this gap size enlarges. By decreasing groove depth, the asymptotical frequency increases for both the symmetric and the anti-symmetric mode, but the variation of propagation losses is more complicated. Propagation losses increase along with the increased period. Our studies on the dispersion characteristics and propagation losses of SSP modes on this doubly corrugated metallic structure with various parameters is instructive for numerous applications such as waveguides, circuitry systems with high integration, filters and powerful electronic sources in the THz regime. (paper)

[en] Dynamics of the axial mode transition process in a 0.33-THz second-harmonic gyrotron is investigated to reveal the physical mechanism of realizing broadband frequency tuning in an open cavity circuit. A new interaction mechanism about propagating waves, featured by wave competition and wave cooperation, is presented and provides a new insight into the beam-wave interaction. The two different features revealed in the two different operation regions of low-order axial modes (LOAMs) and high-order axial modes (HOAMs) respectively determine the characteristic of the overall performance of the device essentially. The device performance is obtained by the simulation based on the time-domain nonlinear theory and shows that using a 12-kV/150-mA electron beam and TE_−_3_,_4 mode, the second harmonic gyrotron can generate terahertz radiations with frequency-tuning ranges of about 0.85 GHz and 0.60 GHz via magnetic field and beam voltage tuning, respectively. Additionally, some non-stationary phenomena in the mode startup process are also analyzed. The investigation in this paper presents guidance for future developing high-performance frequency-tunable gyrotrons toward terahertz applications. (paper)

[en] Regenerated amplification induced by a Fabry–Perot (F–P) cavity is introduced to enhance the interaction efficiency of the free-electron-driven spoof surface plasmon. A direct-current electron beam flies above the meta-grating surface and seeds noise-level plasmonic waves. This weak signal experiences multiple back-and-forth regenerated amplifications in the F–P cavity loaded grating system, and the system outputs a pulsed radiation when the signal leaves the cavity. When compared with the condition without the F–P cavity, the equivalent beam-wave interaction length is effectively extended, and the interaction efficiency is improved by orders of magnitude. The proof-of-principle scheme is verified in both backward-wave and forward-wave modes using the particle-in-cell simulation. This scheme is promising for developing high-efficient on-chip terahertz free-electron radiation sources. (paper)

No abstract available

[en] The effect of the electron beam on the gyrotron operating frequency (the frequency pulling) is studied analytically in the framework of the linear (or small-signal) theory. The theory is applicable for gyrotrons operating at any cyclotron harmonics and in modes with arbitrary axial structures. The present consideration is limited to cases of operation at the fundamental cyclotron resonance and the second harmonic; also two specific axial profiles of the resonator modes are analyzed: the constant and the sinusoidal distributions. In the case of the sinusoidal distribution, we considered the operation in modes with one, two, and three axial variations. It is shown how to use the theory developed for analyzing the frequency tunability due to the frequency pulling effect in a gyrotron with specified parameters of the electron beam.

[en] The measurement system reported here is intended for use in determining the current density distribution of electron beams from Pierce guns for use in TWTs. The system was designed to automatically scan the cross section of the electron beam and collect the high-resolution data with a Faraday cup probe mounted on a multistage manipulator using the LabVIEW program. A 0.06 mm thick molybdenum plate with a pinhole and a Faraday cup mounted as a probe assembly was employed to sample the electron beam current with 0.5 µm space resolution. The thermal analysis of the probe with pulse beam heating was discussed. A 0.45 µP electron gun with the expected minimum beam radius 0.42 mm was measured and the three-dimensional current density distribution, beam envelope and phase space were presented. (paper)

[en] In this paper, a new compact retarding field energy analyzer (RFEA) is designed for diagnosing electron beams of a K-band space travelling-wave tube (TWT). This analyzer has an aperture plate to sample electron beams and a cylindrical electrode to overcome the defocusing effects. The front end of the analyzer constructed as a multistage depression collector (MDC) structure is intended to shape the field to prevent electrons from being accelerated to escape. The direct-current (DC) beams of the K-band space TWTs with the removing MDC can be investigated on the beam measurement system. The current density distribution of DC beams is determined by the analyzer, while the anode voltage and helix voltage of the TWTs are 7000 V and 6850 V, respectively. The current curve’s slope effect due to the reflection of secondary electrons on the copper collector of the analyzer is discussed. The experimental analysis shows this RFEA has a good energy resolution to satisfy the requirement of beam measurement. - Highlights: • A new retarding field energy analyzer (RFEA) is designed to diagnose the electron beam of a K-band space TWT. • The current density distribution of direct-current beam is determined. • The reflection effect of secondary electrons on the copper collector of the analyzer is discussed

[en] The efficiency of slow-wave electron cyclotron masers (ECM) is usually low, thus limiting the practical applications. Here, a method of tapered magnetic field is introduced for the efficiency enhancement of the slow-wave ECM. The numerical calculations show that the tapered magnetic-field method can enhance the efficiency of slow-wave ECM significantly. The effect of beam electron velocity spread on the efficiency has also been studied. Although the velocity spread reduces the efficiency, a great enhancement of efficiency can still be obtained by the tapered magnetic field method