Characterization of stationary and nonstationary behavior in gyrotron oscillators - art. no. 064802

The transition from the stationary state to a sequence of nonstationary sta tes in the gyromonotron oscillator is experimentally characterized for the first time. We have also demonstrated the stationary operation of a gyrotro n backward-wave oscillator at a beam current far in excess of the generally predicted nonstationary threshold. This difference in nonlinear behavior h as been investigated and shown to be fundamental with a comparative analysi s of the feedback mechanisms, energy deposition profiles, and field shaping processes involved in these two types of oscillations.