Abstract
A new scheme for harmonic wave generation using a prebunched electron beam has been demonstrated. The prebunched electron beam has been used to further increase the efficiency of the authors' axis-encircling high-harmonic gyrotron. The proof-of-principle experiment was performed at the third harmonic with a TE312mode at 27. 7 GHz. The conversion power of 6.7 kW was significantly greater than that of the nonprebunched experiment. Also, mode competition was effectively suppressed. As expected, the unsaturated output power is proportional to the square of the electron beam current, and the start of oscillation current is essentially zero. A linear theory, derived by taking into account the spread of the guiding center and the spread of the axial velocity, gives good agreement with the experimental results. © 1990 IEEE