Following-wave amplification mode of a clinotron

Abstract

The following-wave amplification mode of a model of the clinotron with linear electron trajectories is studied in the framework of linear and nonlinear theories. It is demonstrated that the clinotron effect is absent in the linear mode, since the amplification factor is maximized at zero angle between the beam and the surface of the slow-wave structure. In the large-amplitude mode, an obliquely incident beam, on the contrary, enhances the interaction efficiency. This is associated not only with the fact that partial layers of an obliquely incident beam propagate through the region where the HF field of the surface wave is largely localized, but also with weakening of nonlinear effects of bunching and energy exchange between the beam and the HF field. Comparative analysis of the efficiency of the clinotron effect in the modes of backward-wave oscillation and forward-wave amplification is performed.