Gain/bandwidth predictions for travelling-wave gyrotron

Small signal gain computations based on a Pierce description of the traveling-wave gyrotron have been performed for cases involving beam voltages in the range 70-300 kV. Interactions at both the first and the second harmonics of the cyclotron resonance frequency have been considered in order to identify a range of operating parameters for the gyro-traveling-wave amplifier configuration which will potentially produce gain and bandwidth figures of significance to radar and communication systems operating at millimeter-wave frequencies. It is shown that when operated fundamentally and well away from cutoff, the gyro-traveling-wave amplifier can be magnetically tuned over a wide frequency range, with instantaneous bandwidths in the range 4-8% depending on the beam voltage; at voltages in excess of 200 kV, instantaneous bandwidths approaching 10% can be achieved.