Study the Effect of Positive Dispersion in Input Circuit of

Broadband Helix Traveling Wave Tubes

YuLu Hu1, YanMei Wang2, ZhongHai Yang1, JianQing Li1 and Bin Li1
1
National Key Laboratory of Science and Technology on Vacuum Electronics
School of Physical Electronics, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China
NO.4, Section 2, North Jianshe Road, Chengdu, P. R. China 610054
2
Beijing Vacuum Electronics Research Institute, P.O. Box 749, Beijing 100016, P. R. China

Abstract: An analysis of the effect of positive dispersion reason to choose the positive dispersion at start of the input
in input circuit of broadband helix Traveling-Wave tubes circuit is to avert the harmonic exciting at output circuit.
(TWTs) is put forward. Using the positive dispersion at the
start of the input circuit, the frequencies at high band is
synchronized while the low band is not. Thus, the

Normalized Phase Velocity

interaction length of high band frequencies is extend, while Positive Dispersion
the low band wave is delayed to be interaction, and the
parasitic harmonic wave is also to be delayed. Then the
effect can be improved at high band frequencies. Negative Dispersion
A 6~18GHz TWT is designed and simulated with a
Synchronization Region
positive dispersion at the start of the input circuit (slow
wave structure without vane) and followed with the
negative dispersion (slow wave structure with deep vane), Frequency
the efficiency in band is shown slightly improved.
Keyword: Positive Dispersion, Negative Dispersion, Fig. 1. Positive and negative dispersion at synchronization
region
Harmonic Reduction, Broadband, BWIS.
Introduction
Helix traveling-wave tubes (TWTs) employed in various
Positive Dispersion
Coupling impedance

applications, such as in radar, electronic countermeasure, Negative Dispersion

and other electronic warfare systems, that require high
power, high efficiency at high frequencies over a multi-
octave band. To improve the electronic efficiency over a
multi-octave band, one of effective method is careful
design of the helix pitch profile, such as the positive PVT,
consisted of a section with reduced phase velocity followed
by a positive phase velocity taper [1], which can enhance
the electronic efficiency at high frequency. And the Frequency
negative dispersion (shown in Fig. 1) is used to reduce the Fig. 2. The coupling impedance with positive and negative
harmonic content and improve the fundamental wave dispersion.
output power at low frequency [2].
However, the deeper negative dispersion is, the lower
Input Circuit Output Circuit
coupling impedance to be. Especially in high frequencies
(shown in Fig. 2), the waves of the coupling impedance
would be too small to be excited at high efficiency. Positive Negative Dispersion
Dispersion
In order to improve the efficiency at high band frequencies,
the positive dispersion is chose at the start of the interaction
region, within the frequencies at high band synchronized Attenuator
while the low band not(shown in Fig. 1). Thus, the
interaction length of high band frequencies is extend, while z axis
the low band wave is delayed to be interaction, and the Fig. 3. The positive and negative dispersion profile.
parasitic harmonic wave is also to be delayed. Then the
effect can be improved at high band frequencies. Another

978-1-4673-5977-1/13/$31.00 ©2013 IEEE

Simulation -6

2 harmonic content (dBc)

One way to get positive dispersion is to remove the vane in -7
the slow wave structure (shown in Fig. 4) in the beginning -8
of the tube, that the dispersion can make the frequencies at
high band synchronized while the low band not. -9

-10
Negative Dispersion
Positive Dispersion
-11

nd
-12
6.0 6.5 7.0 7.5 8.0 8.5 9.0
Frequency (GHz)
Fig. 6 2nd harmonic content comparison in saturated output
power with negative dispersion profile or with positive
dispersion ahead
Fig. 4 Slow wave structure without vane to obtain the
This work is supported by the National Natural Science
positive dispersion and with vane to obtain the negative
dispersion. Foundations of China (Grant No. 60931001, 10905009,
61201003, 61071030), and the Fundamental Research
Funds for the Central Universities (Grant No.
With the length of positive dispersion equal to 40% of the
ZYGX2012J045, ZYGX2012J044, ZYGX2012J054).
input circuit length or 22% of the whole length, saturated
efficiency comparison in the band and 2nd harmonic
content comparison in saturated output power are simulated
as shown in Fig. 5 and Fig. 6. 2% of the efficiency at References
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Sat. Efficiency(%)

20
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Negative Disperion
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10
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