An Internal Feedback Traveling-Wave-Tube Oscillator

A theory of operation neglecting space charge is presented for the internal feedback traveling-wave-tube oscillator. Experimental results, obtained from an oscillator using a helix as the interaction structure, are shown to agree closely with the theory. A brief discussion of oscillators operating on space harmonics is given, and it is suggested that an oscillator operating on the space-harmonic principle might have desirable characteristics for a millimeter wave generator.