Mode-locked electron oscillator based on two coupled helical gyro-TWTs

Based on a time-domain model we demonstrate that a periodic train of powerful ultrashort microwave pulses can be generated in an electron oscillator consisting of two coupled helically corrugated gyrotron travelling wave tubes (gyro-TWTs) operating in regimes of amplification and saturable absorption, respectively. Mechanism of pulse formation in such an oscillator is based on the effect of passive mode-locking widely used in laser physics. Saturable absorption can be implemented in a gyro-TWT in the Kompfner dip regime by a proper matching of the guiding magnetic field. According to simulations with the parameters of an experimentally realized Ka-band gyro-TWT, the peak power of generated pulses with duration of 200 ps can achieve 400 kW.