Investigation of an efficiency-optimized O-type TWT with an irregular slow-wave structure

An efficiency optimization of an O-type traveling wave tube with allowance for space-charge forces was carried out, and the basic features of the optimal interaction process were investigated. Compared with the kinematic case, the allowance for space-charge forces leads to only a relatively small change in the optimal parameters; thus, the preliminary optimization of the O-type TWT can be carried out in the kinematic approximation. It is shown that the efficiency approaches 80 percent in a single-section O-type TWT with optimal parameters of the irregular slow-wave structure and electron beam.