US4554483A — Active circulator gyrotron traveling-wave amplifi…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 266 words

An RF traveling-wave amplifier comprising: a tapered interaction waveguide wherein the cross-section thereof gradually increases from a small first end to a larger second end for propagating electromagnetic energy in a broad frequency band therein, said interaction waveguide supporting first and second orthogonal polarization modes therein with approximately the same propagation characteristic for said first and second modes; means for generating a beam of relativistic electrons with helical electron motion and for directing said beam into said interaction waveguide through said small first end to axially propagate toward said larger second end of said interaction waveguide; means for generating a tapered magnetic field within said interaction waveguide in a direction approximately parallel to the axis of said interaction waveguide and for profiling said magnetic field to near grazing interaction with said second polarization mode of said waveguide; means disposed in said interaction waveguide for loading said first polarization mode relative to said second polarization mode; means for launching an input electromagnetic wave of said first polarization mode into said interaction waveguide at said larger second end to propagate toward said smaller first end such that various different frequency components of said input wave will be reflected at various points along the constriction of said tapered interaction waveguide, said reflected input wave exciting said second polarization mode in said interaction waveguide such that said first and second polarization modes copropagate with said electron beam and are amplified thereby, the portion of said reflected wave in said second polarization mode being amplified to a greater extent than the portion of said reflected wave in said first polarization mode.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 266 words

An RF traveling-wave amplifier comprising: a tapered interaction waveguide wherein the cross-section thereof gradually increases from a small first end to a larger second end for propagating electromagnetic energy in a broad frequency band therein, said interaction waveguide supporting first and second orthogonal polarization modes therein with approximately the same propagation characteristic for said first and second modes; means for generating a beam of relativistic electrons with helical electron motion and for directing said beam into said interaction waveguide through said small first end to axially propagate toward said larger second end of said interaction waveguide; means for generating a tapered magnetic field within said interaction waveguide in a direction approximately parallel to the axis of said interaction waveguide and for profiling said magnetic field to near grazing interaction with said second polarization mode of said waveguide; means disposed in said interaction waveguide for loading said first polarization mode relative to said second polarization mode; means for launching an input electromagnetic wave of said first polarization mode into said interaction waveguide at said larger second end to propagate toward said smaller first end such that various different frequency components of said input wave will be reflected at various points along the constriction of said tapered interaction waveguide, said reflected input wave exciting said second polarization mode in said interaction waveguide such that said first and second polarization modes copropagate with said electron beam and are amplified thereby, the portion of said reflected wave in said second polarization mode being amplified to a greater extent than the portion of said reflected wave in said first polarization mode.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 19 words

The RF traveling-wave amplifier as recited in claim 1, wherein said interaction waveguide comprises a nearly square rectangular cross-section.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 30 words

The RF traveling-wave amplifier as recited in claim 2, wherein said nearly square rectangular cross-section yields cutoff frequencies for said first and second polarization modes differing by approximately 2 percent.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 48 words

The RF traveling-wave amplifier as recited in claim 2, wherein said means disposed in said interaction waveguide for loading said first polarization mode relative to said second polarization mode is a coating of dielectric material on at least a portion of the inner surface of said interaction waveguide.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 73 words

The RF traveling-wave amplifier as recited in claim 2 wherein said interaction waveguide comprises first and second inner surfaces spaning the width of said interaction waveguide and said means disposed in said interaction waveguide for loading said first polarization mode relative to said second polarization mode comprises: a first dielectric layer coating said first inner surface of said interaction waveguide; and a second dielectric layer coating said second inner surface of said waveguide.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 18 words

The RF traveling-wave amplifier as recited in claim 1, wherein: said tapered interaction waveguide has a linear taper.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 29 words

The RF traveling-wave amplifier as recited in claim 1, wherein: said first polarization mode is the TE 01 mode; and said second polarization mode is the TE 10 mode.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 36 words

The RF traveling-wave amplifier as recited in claim 1, wherein: said tapered interaction waveguide is selected from the group of waveguide types consisting of: circular cross-section, rectangular cross-section, elliptical cross-section, ridge waveguide, circular cross-section with ridges.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 74 words

The RF traveling-wave amplifier as recited in claim 1, which further comprises: an output waveguide coupled to said larger second end of said interaction waveguide to couple output electromagnetic energy from said interaction waveguide; said means for launching said input wave comprising an input waveguide coupled to an array of apertures in one side wall of said output waveguide, said input waveguide coupling said input wave into said interaction waveguide through said output waveguide.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 203 words

The RF traveling-wave amplifier as recited in claim 1, wherein: said magnetic field generated by said magnetic field generating means is profiled closely in accordance with the equation: ##EQU2## where: B o is the axial magnetic field at the small first end of said interaction waveguide; γ=(1-V.sub.⊥ 2 /C 2 -V z 2 /C 2 ) -1/2 γ zo =(1-V.sub.⊥o 2 /C 2 -V zo 2 /C 2 ) -1/2 β.sub.⊥o =is the electron velocity perpendicular to the magnetic field at the small first end of the interaction waveguide divided by C; λ w is the cutoff wavelength of said second polarization mode of said tapered interaction waveguide; λ wo is the cutoff wavelength of said second polarization mode of said tapered interaction waveguide at the small first end thereof; V.sub.⊥ is the electron velocity perpendicular to the interaction waveguide axis; V.sub.⊥o is the electron velocity perpendicular to the interaction waveguide axis at the small first end of said interaction waveguide; V z is the electron velocity parallel to the interaction waveguide axis; V zo is the electron velocity parallel to the interaction waveguide axis at the small first end of said interaction waveguide; and C is the free space speed of light.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 183 words

An RF traveling-wave amplifier comprising: an interaction waveguide having first and second ends, said interaction waveguide supporting first and second orthogonal polarization modes therein with approximately the same propagation characteristics for said first and second modes; means for generating a beam of relativistic electrons with helical electron motion and for directing said beam into said interaction waveguide through said first end to axially propagate toward said second end of said interaction waveguide; means for generating a magnetic field within said interaction waveguide in a direction approximately parallel to the axis of said interaction waveguide and for profiling said magnetic field to near grazing interaction waveguide means disposed in said interaction waveguide for loading said first polarization mode relative to said second polarization mode; means for launching an input electromagnetic wave of said first polarization mode into said interaction waveguide to co-propagate with said electron beam and be amplified thereby said input wave exciting said second polarization mode which additionally co-propagates with said electron beam and is amplified thereby, said second polarization mode being amplified to a greater extent than said first polarization mode.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 183 words

An RF traveling-wave amplifier comprising: an interaction waveguide having first and second ends, said interaction waveguide supporting first and second orthogonal polarization modes therein with approximately the same propagation characteristics for said first and second modes; means for generating a beam of relativistic electrons with helical electron motion and for directing said beam into said interaction waveguide through said first end to axially propagate toward said second end of said interaction waveguide; means for generating a magnetic field within said interaction waveguide in a direction approximately parallel to the axis of said interaction waveguide and for profiling said magnetic field to near grazing interaction waveguide means disposed in said interaction waveguide for loading said first polarization mode relative to said second polarization mode; means for launching an input electromagnetic wave of said first polarization mode into said interaction waveguide to co-propagate with said electron beam and be amplified thereby said input wave exciting said second polarization mode which additionally co-propagates with said electron beam and is amplified thereby, said second polarization mode being amplified to a greater extent than said first polarization mode.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 127 words

The RF traveling-wave amplifier as recited in claim 11, wherein said interaction waveguide comprises: a tapered interaction waveguide having a small first end and a larger second end, the cross-section of said interaction waveguide gradually increasing from the small first end to the larger second end thereof; said magnetic field generated by said magnetic field generating means being tapered to correspond to the taper of said interaction waveguide; said input wave being launched into said interaction waveguide at said larger second end thereof to propagate toward said smaller first end such that various frequency components in said input wave will be reflected at various points along the constriction of the taper of said waveguide, said reflected input wave exciting said second polarization mode in said interaction waveguide.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 19 words

The RF traveling-wave amplifier as recited in claim 12, wherein said interaction waveguide comprises a nearly square rectangular cross-section.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 30 words

The RF traveling-wave amplifier as recited in claim 13, wherein said nearly square rectangular cross-section yields cutoff frequencies for said first and second polarization modes differing by approximately 2 percent.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 48 words

The RF traveling-wave amplifier as recited in claim 13 wherein the means disposed in said interaction waveguide for loading said first polarization mode relative to said second polarization mode is a coating of dielectric material on at least a portion of the inner surface of said interaction waveguide.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 71 words

The RF traveling-wave amplifier as in claim 13, wherein said interaction waveguide comprises first and second inner surfaces spanning the width of said interaction waveguide and said means disposed in said interaction waveguide for loading said first polarization mode relative to said second polarization mode comprises; a first dielectric layer coating said first inner surface of said waveguide; and a second dielectric layer coating said second inner surface of said waveguide.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 18 words

The RF traveling-wave amplifier as recited in claim 12, wherein: said tapered interaction waveguide has a linear taper.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 29 words

The RF traveling-wave amplifier as recited in claim 12, wherein: said first polarization mode is the TE 01 mode; and said second polarization mode is the TE 10 mode.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 36 words

The RF traveling-wave amplifier as recited in claim 12, wherein: said tapered interaction waveguide is selected from the group of waveguide types consisting of: circular cross-section, rectangular cross-section, elliptical cross-section, ridge waveguide, circular cross-section with ridges.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 74 words

The RF traveling-wave amplifier as recited in claim 12, which further comprises: an output waveguide coupled to said larger second end of said interaction waveguide to couple output electromagnetic energy from said interaction waveguide; said means for launching said input wave comprising an input waveguide coupled to an array of apertures in one side wall of said output waveguide, and input waveguide coupling said input wave into said interaction waveguide through said output waveguide.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 203 words

The RF traveling-wave amplifier as recited in claim 12, wherein: said magnetic field generated by said magnetic field generating means is profiled closely in accordance with the equation: ##EQU3## wherein: B o is the axial magnetic field at the small first end of said interaction waveguide; γ=(1-V.sub.⊥ 2 /C 2 -V z 2 /C 2 ) -1/2 γ zo =(1-V.sub.⊥o z /C 2 -V zo 2 /C 2 ) -1/2 β.sub.⊥o is the electron velocity perpendicular to the magnetic field at the small first end of the interaction waveguide divided by C; λ w is the cutoff wavelength of said second polarization mode of said tapered interaction waveguide; λ wo is the cutoff wavelength of said second polarization mode of said tapered interaction waveguide at the small first end thereof; V.sub.⊥ is the electron velocity perpendicular to the interaction waveguide axis; V.sub.⊥o is the electron velocity perpendicular to the interaction waveguide axis at the small first end of said interaction waveguide; V z is the electron velocity parallel to the interaction waveguide axis; V zo is the electron velocity parallel to the interaction waveguide axis at the small first end of the interaction waveguide; and C is the free space speed of light.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1988-11-18	1989-05-20	1989-11-19	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1992-11-18	1993-05-20	1993-11-19	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1996-11-18	1997-05-20	1997-11-19	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Active circulator gyrotron traveling-wave amplifier

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