Nonlinear Analysis of the Solid State Gyrotron Oscillator

The solid state gyrotron [1,2] isa promising new source of low power (∼< mW) radiation in the millimeter and submillimeter wavelength region. This region of the spectrum is very difficult to cover with existing technology. IMPATT diodes cooled to 77°K have generated a few milliwatts at frequencies as high as 400 GHz at an efficiency of less than one percent but are extremely difficult to fabricate. Optically pumped “cyclotron maser” have been shown to be not feasible [3]. In fact, no other solid state sources have been demonstrated at submillimeter wavelengths. Lasers are available in this frequency range but are, of course, bulky and expensive. In ref.[2] a linear theory of solid state gyrotron oscillator was developed treating the scattering of electrons phenomenologically. Here we give a nonlinear analysis of the oscillator to calculate the efficiency and the output power of the device. The scattering of electrons is treated more accurately by using the Monte Carlo Method [4].