High-Power 100 kW CW Q-Band Gyro-TWT: Performance and Stability

To satisfy the demand for high-power microwave sources, a Q-band 100 kW continuous-wave (CW) gyrotron traveling wave tube (gyro-TWT) is fabricated and experimentally demonstrated in this letter. The stability and uniformity of electron emission are greatly improved through the application of cathode coating thin-film technology. The power capacity of the device is assessed using efficient thermal management methods. Experimental results show that the gyro-TWT, driven by a 56 kV-7.9 A electron beam, achieves a maximum CW power of 115.6 kW, a gain of 54.9 dB, and an efficiency of 26.1% at 49.5 GHz. The device operates stably for a long time, with performance at the forefront of current technology.