Compression of frequency-modulated pulses from a relativistic BWO up to multigigawatt powers

Abstract

The theoretical analysis and proof-of-principle experiments at kilowatt power levels showed that X-band radiation of 50-70 ns duration with 3-5% frequency modulation can be compressed into 1-3 ns pulses having 10-30 times higher peak power. This region of operating parameters in conjunction with low reflection and high RF electric strength makes the helical waveguide compressor attractive for increasing the peak power from relativistic non-resonant electron devices such as BWOs and TWTs up to the multigigawatt level.