Gain and bandwidth of the gyro-TWT and CARM amplifiers

Issues concerning the interpretation of gain and bandwidth from the dispersion relation are examined for the gyrotron traveling wave tube (gyro-TWT) and the cyclotron auto-resonance maser (CARM) amplifiers. A general method for the determination of the critical current for oscillation is illustrated. Despite the broad bandwidth predicted for the CARM amplifier by the commonly employed dispersion relation, it is seen in particle simulation that single-particle interaction. Rather than collective amplification, prevails over much of the band. Reasons for the discrepancy are analyzed.<
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