Study on the beam-wave interaction in the rectangular Cerenkov maser with a sheet electron beam

A linear theory of a rectangular Cerenkov maser (RCM) with a sheet electron beam is developed by using Borgnis function method and field-match method. Based on a 3-D beam-wave interaction model proposed in this paper, the TE_x mode dispersion equation and its analytical solution are derived for the RCM. Through numerical calculations, the effect of the beam thickness, current density and beam-grating gap on the linear growth rate is analyzed.