Hot stuffing of helical SWS by induction heating

A clean SWS stuffing method (Hot Stuffing) has been developed for improving the heat-dissipation capability of a helix traveling-wave-tube slow-wave structure (SWS). This method has been compared with the traditional method of cold-stuffing. Special fixtures have been designed and feasibility of this method has been verified by experimental tests on SWSs using tungsten-rhenium helices and APBN support rods.