Design of a High-Q Diamond-Loaded Cavity for a Third-Harmonic Subterahertz Gyrotron Driven by a Low-Power Electron Beam

A continuous-wave (CW) high-harmonic gyrotron driven by a low-power electron beam is a compact radiation source demanded by terahertz applications. Its physical feasibility, however, is hampered by ohmic losses and mode competition in the gyrotron cavity. An ultralow-loss diamond loading of the cavity can give a clue to this problem. This article is concerned with theoretical aspects of mode selection and design for a gyrotron cavity loaded with coaxial rod made of chemical vapor deposition (CVD) diamond. As an example, the design of a high-Q diamond-loaded cavity for a third-harmonic 658-GHz gyrotron powered by a 0.1-A, 15-kV electron beam is presented. It is shown that the designed cavity enables the gyrotron to produce up to 116-W output power in a single oscillating mode

Improved Mode Selection in Coaxial Cavities for Subterahertz Second-Harmonic Gyrotrons

A coaxial metal rod with partial dielectric coating is considered as a means for efficient suppression of all volume competing modes in cavities for second-harmonic gyrotrons operated in whispering gallery modes. The rod radius is selected small enough to have only a slight effect on operating mode, which therefore remains insensitive to fabrication tolerances and a misalignment of the coaxial insert. By contrast, for the competing modes such a rod is shown to reduce the effective cavity length, thereby greatly increasing the starting currents. Such a method of mode selection is demonstrated to be more versatile, when compared to that provided by a tapered coaxial conductor. The advantage of a dielectric-coated coaxial insert is illustrated by the example of a cavity for a 100-kW 300-GHz pulsed gyrotron operated in the second-harmonic mode

A validation roadmap of multi-physics simulators of the resonator of mw-class cw gyrotrons for fusion applications

For a few years the multi-physics modelling of the resonance cavity (resonator) of MW-class continuous-wave gyrotrons, to be employed for electron cyclotron heating and current drive in magnetic confinement fusion machines, has gained increasing interest. The rising target power of the gyrotrons, which drives progressively higher Ohmic losses to be removed from the resonator, together with the need for limiting the resonator deformation as much as possible, has put more emphasis on the thermal-hydraulic and thermo-mechanic modeling of the cavity. To cope with that, a multi-physics simulator has been developed in recent years in a shared effort between several European institutions (the Karlsruher Institut für Technologie and Politecnico di Torino, supported by Fusion for Energy). In this paper the current status of the tool calibration and validation is addressed, aiming at highlighting where any direct or indirect comparisons with experimental data are missing and suggesting a possible roadmap to fill that gap, taking advantage of forthcoming tests in Europe

A validation roadmap of multi-physics simulators of the resonator of mw-class cw gyrotrons for fusion applications

For a few years the multi-physics modelling of the resonance cavity (resonator) of MW-class continuous-wave gyrotrons, to be employed for electron cyclotron heating and current drive in magnetic confinement fusion machines, has gained increasing interest. The rising target power of the gyrotrons, which drives progressively higher Ohmic losses to be removed from the resonator, together with the need for limiting the resonator deformation as much as possible, has put more emphasis on the thermal-hydraulic and thermo-mechanic modeling of the cavity. To cope with that, a multi-physics simulator has been developed in recent years in a shared effort between several European institutions (the Karlsruher Institut für Technologie and Politecnico di Torino, supported by Fusion for Energy). In this paper the current status of the tool calibration and validation is addressed, aiming at highlighting where any direct or indirect comparisons with experimental data are missing and suggesting a possible roadmap to fill that gap, taking advantage of forthcoming tests in Europe

Cooling concepts for the CVD diamond Brewster-angle window

The chemical vapor deposition (CVD) diamond Brewster-angle window is a very promising broadband radio-frequency (RF) output window solution for frequency step-tunable high power gyrotrons foreseen in nuclear fusion devices like DEMO. Since gyrotrons operate in the megawatt-class power range, active cooling of the output window during operation is mandatory for long pulse operation. In this paper, different indirect cooling layouts were investigated and compared by finite element method (FEM) thermal and structural analyses. Scenarios with different power and frequency beam were taken into account in the analyses

Cooling concepts for the CVD diamond Brewster-angle window

The chemical vapor deposition (CVD) diamond Brewster-angle window is a very promising broadband radio-frequency (RF) output window solution for frequency step-tunable high power gyrotrons foreseen in nuclear fusion devices like DEMO. Since gyrotrons operate in the megawatt-class power range, active cooling of the output window during operation is mandatory for long pulse operation. In this paper, different indirect cooling layouts were investigated and compared by finite element method (FEM) thermal and structural analyses. Scenarios with different power and frequency beam were taken into account in the analyses

Palaeocurrent directions as an indicator of Pindos foreland evolution (central and southern part), Western Greece

In order to estimate the palaeoflow direction of the submarine fans, deposited in the Internal Ionian subbasin of the Pindos Foreland, fifty-one positions along the sub-basin were selected and measurements of palaeocurrents indicators such as flute and groove marks were taken. In the studied area the main palaeoflow direction of turbidites was axial, from south to north in the southern part, and from north to south in the northern part. A minor westward palaeoflow direction is also present. These palaeoflow directions were influenced mainly by the regional tectonic activity, such as internal thrusting (Gavrovo Thrust) and differential activity of the Pindos Thrust which subdivided Pindos foreland into narrow linear sub-basins