Experimental demonstration of a W-band (94 GHz) gyrotwystron amplifier

A four section, TE/sub 01/ mode W-band gyrotwystron amplifier has been designed, built, and tested. The circuit consists of three cavities followed by a traveling wave output section, each operating near the fundamental cyclotron frequency. The gyrotwystron has produced 50 kW peak output power, corresponding to 17.5% efficiency for a 57 kV, 5 A electron beam; the amplifier is zero drive stable at the operating point. The measured center frequency is 93.9 GHz with a full width half maximum instantaneous bandwidth of 925 MHz. These results represent a substantial improvement in the power-bandwidth product over previously demonstrated gyro amplifiers in this band. The small signal and saturated gains were 39 and 30 dB, respectively. The measured results are in good agreement with theoretical predictions.