We study a system of semilinear hyperbolic PDEs which arises as a continuum approximation of the discrete nonlinear dimer array model of SSH type of Hadad, Vitelli and Alú in [1]. We classify the system’s traveling waves, and study their stability properties. We focus on pulse solutions (solitons) on a nontrivial background and moving domain wall solutions (kinks and antikinks), corresponding to heteroclinic orbits for a reduced two-dimensional dynamical system. We further present analytical results on: nonlinear stability and spectral stability of supersonic pulses, and the spectral stability of moving domain walls. Our result for nonlinear stability is expressed in terms of appropriately weighted ?1-norms of the perturbation, which captures the phenomenon of convective stabilization; as time advances, the traveling wave “outruns” the growing disturbance excited by an initial perturbation. We use our analytical results to interpret phenomena observed in numerical simulations. The results for (linear) spectral stability are studied in appropriately-weighted ?2-norms.

Vacuum microwave tubes, such as klystron, traveling-wave tube, gyrotron are high efficiency devices, where the RF interaction structure facilitates efficient energy transfer from the kinetic energy of the high energy electron beam to the electromagnetic wave. Traveling-wave Tube is the most versatile microwave power amplifier widely used for terrestrial communication, radar and aerospace applications. The waveguide based slow-wave structures like Millman, Karp, inter digital, grated waveguide, ring-plane, ring-bar, millitron and folded-waveguide structure gathered importance for application in millimeter-wave traveling-wave tubes. Among these millimeter-wave interaction structures, the folded-waveguide slow-wave structure became the most popular due to its robust structure, high power capability, low RF loss, simpler coupling, reasonably wide bandwidth and ease of fabrication for millimeter-wave to terahertz frequencies. Hence this thesis aims to analyse the folded-waveguide slow-wave structure for broad-banding and efficiency enhancement. The existing approaches for the analysis of cold circuit parameters (dispersion and interaction impedance characteristics) of folded-waveguide slow-wave structure are reinvestigated and found that these have limitation, as the effects of E-plane bend and beam-hole discontinuities are ignored in the parametric analysis. A cascaded matrix equivalent circuit model includes the effect of E-plane and beam-hole discontinuities for the analysis, but reported only for the serpentine folded-waveguide slow-wave structure. The cold test measurement technique was reported only for the dispersion characteristics. Hence the measurement technique has to be extended for the measurement of interaction impedance. The author proposes to orient the present doctoral work to (i) extend the proposed cascaded transmission matrix equivalent model for the analysis of rectangular folded-waveguide slow-wave structure, (ii) develop a non-resonant perturbation technique for the measurement of interaction impedance characteristics of the folded-waveguide slow-wave structure and also to (iii) establish new analysis models for the folded-waveguide slow-wave structure. The effect of E-plane bend and beam-hole discontinuities on the RF characteristics have been considered and simple, yet accurate closed form expressions for the computation of dispersion and interaction impedance characteristics have been established by three different approaches namely: transmission line equivalent circuit model, conformal mapping equivalent circuit model and quasi-TEM approach. The analysis results are benchmarked against 3-D electromagnetic modeling. The non-resonant perturbation theory is developed for the interaction impedance measurement. Typical Ka-band structures are fabricated by wire-EDM process and cold test measurements are carried out to benchmark the analysis approaches. The equivalent circuit models based on lumped circuit model are simpler than the cascaded matrix equivalent circuit model and can give closed form expressions for the prediction of dispersion and interaction impedance characteristics. The quasi-TEM approach can be extended for the complicated structure like ridge-loaded FWG-SWS. Broad-banding of the conventional folded-waveguide slow-wave structure is attempted by ridge-loading on the broad wall of the structure. The ridge-loaded folded-waveguide slow-wave structure is analyzed by parametric approach, cascaded transmission matrix equivalent circuit model and quasi-TEM approach and validated against numerical simulation. The analysis is extended for exploring the efficacy of the ridge-loading on broad-banding of the traveling-wave tube. Finally efficiency enhancement of the folded-waveguide slow-wave structure is attempted by introducing grating on the broad wall of the structure. The analysis is carried out by numerical simulation for exploring the efficacy of the grating on efficiency enhancement of the traveling-wave tube.

Este trabalho apresenta o desenvolvimento de uma plataforma para o estudo teórico e experimental de dispositivos amplificadores de micro-ondas do tipo válvula de ondas progressivas (TWT). A plataforma é composta por um modelo matemático e uma bancada de testes. O modelo matemático descreve a TWT como uma linha de transmissão acoplada a um feixe eletrônico unidimensional, onde as forças de carga espacial AC e DC são calculadas auto consistentemente, eliminando-se a necessidade de um cálculo separado para o fator de redução de carga espacial. O modelo matemático deu origem a dois códigos para a simulação da TWT. Ambos foram comparados com resultados experimentais e teóricos disponíveis na literatura especializada para uma pré-validação. O nível de concordância entre os presentes resultados e aqueles de referência foi acima de 90%, o que atendeu as expectativas de exatidão do modelo, tendo em vista que nem todos os parâmetros de entrada estavam disponíveis na referência. A bancada de testes construída é composta por uma TWT com banda de operação de 6,0 a 18 GHz e potência saturada máxima em torno de 55 dBm (316 W) em 13 GHz, um circuito de polarização para a mesma e a instrumentação necessária para a realização das medidas pertinentes aos amplificadores de potência. A TWT em questão foi caracterizada segundo seu comportamento mono-sinal e multi-sinal. As curvas de ganho e potência foram obtidas em função da frequência utilizando a voltagem de aceleração do feixe eletrônico e a potência de entrada como parâmetros. As curvas de transferência de potência, de fase e compressão de ganho foram obtidas para frequências escolhidas ao longo da banda, tendo novamente a voltagem de aceleração como parâmetro. Adicionalmente, a produção de produtos de intermodulação de terceira ordem foi caracterizada no ponto de 1 dB de compressão de ganho ao longo da banda analisada. Um teste de linearização por injeção de sinais, que estava previsto no plano de trabalho, não apresentou o desempenho esperado devido a problemas no funcionamento do circuito linearizador. Esses problemas foram analisados e listou-se uma série de passos para saná-los. / This work deals with the development of a platform for theoretical and experimental investigations of microwave amplifiers devices of the type traveling-wave tube (TWT). The platform consists of a mathematical model and a test bench. The mathematical model describes the TWT as a transmission line coupled to a onedimensional electron beam, in which the AC and DC space charge forces are calculated self-consistently, eliminating the need for a separate calculation for the space charge reduction factor. The mathematical model gave rise to two codes for the simulation of TWTs. Both codes were validated against experimental and theoretical results available in the literature. The overall level of agreement between the present results and those from the reference was above 90%, which was considered satisfactory since not all input parameters were available in the reference. The test bench consists of a wideband TWT operating from 6.0 to 18 GHz and maximum saturated power around 55 dBm (316 W) at 13 GHz, a biasing circuit, and the instrumentation needed to perform the relevant measurements to the power amplifier. The TWT in question was characterized according to its mono-signal and multi-signal behavior. The gain and power curves were obtained as a function of the frequency using the beam voltage and the input power as parameters. The curves of power transfer, phase transfer and gain compression were obtained for selected frequencies along the operating band, again, using the beam voltage as a parameter. Furthermore, the production of third-order intermodulation products was measured at the 1 dB gain compression point over the band analyzed. A linearization test applying the signal injection technique, which was part of the initial work plan, presented inadequate performance due to problems in the linearizer circuit operation. These problems were analyzed and a guide to solve them was provided.

Este trabalho apresenta o desenvolvimento de uma plataforma para o estudo teórico e experimental de dispositivos amplificadores de micro-ondas do tipo válvula de ondas progressivas (TWT). A plataforma é composta por um modelo matemático e uma bancada de testes. O modelo matemático descreve a TWT como uma linha de transmissão acoplada a um feixe eletrônico unidimensional, onde as forças de carga espacial AC e DC são calculadas auto consistentemente, eliminando-se a necessidade de um cálculo separado para o fator de redução de carga espacial. O modelo matemático deu origem a dois códigos para a simulação da TWT. Ambos foram comparados com resultados experimentais e teóricos disponíveis na literatura especializada para uma pré-validação. O nível de concordância entre os presentes resultados e aqueles de referência foi acima de 90%, o que atendeu as expectativas de exatidão do modelo, tendo em vista que nem todos os parâmetros de entrada estavam disponíveis na referência. A bancada de testes construída é composta por uma TWT com banda de operação de 6,0 a 18 GHz e potência saturada máxima em torno de 55 dBm (316 W) em 13 GHz, um circuito de polarização para a mesma e a instrumentação necessária para a realização das medidas pertinentes aos amplificadores de potência. A TWT em questão foi caracterizada segundo seu comportamento mono-sinal e multi-sinal. As curvas de ganho e potência foram obtidas em função da frequência utilizando a voltagem de aceleração do feixe eletrônico e a potência de entrada como parâmetros. As curvas de transferência de potência, de fase e compressão de ganho foram obtidas para frequências escolhidas ao longo da banda, tendo novamente a voltagem de aceleração como parâmetro. Adicionalmente, a produção de produtos de intermodulação de terceira ordem foi caracterizada no ponto de 1 dB de compressão de ganho ao longo da banda analisada. Um teste de linearização por injeção de sinais, que estava previsto no plano de trabalho, não apresentou o desempenho esperado devido a problemas no funcionamento do circuito linearizador. Esses problemas foram analisados e listou-se uma série de passos para saná-los. / This work deals with the development of a platform for theoretical and experimental investigations of microwave amplifiers devices of the type traveling-wave tube (TWT). The platform consists of a mathematical model and a test bench. The mathematical model describes the TWT as a transmission line coupled to a onedimensional electron beam, in which the AC and DC space charge forces are calculated self-consistently, eliminating the need for a separate calculation for the space charge reduction factor. The mathematical model gave rise to two codes for the simulation of TWTs. Both codes were validated against experimental and theoretical results available in the literature. The overall level of agreement between the present results and those from the reference was above 90%, which was considered satisfactory since not all input parameters were available in the reference. The test bench consists of a wideband TWT operating from 6.0 to 18 GHz and maximum saturated power around 55 dBm (316 W) at 13 GHz, a biasing circuit, and the instrumentation needed to perform the relevant measurements to the power amplifier. The TWT in question was characterized according to its mono-signal and multi-signal behavior. The gain and power curves were obtained as a function of the frequency using the beam voltage and the input power as parameters. The curves of power transfer, phase transfer and gain compression were obtained for selected frequencies along the operating band, again, using the beam voltage as a parameter. Furthermore, the production of third-order intermodulation products was measured at the 1 dB gain compression point over the band analyzed. A linearization test applying the signal injection technique, which was part of the initial work plan, presented inadequate performance due to problems in the linearizer circuit operation. These problems were analyzed and a guide to solve them was provided.

No description available.

Through continued innovation and growth, traveling wave tube amplifiers (TWTAs) remains the microwave power amplifiers of choice in a wide range of high power microwave and millimeter-wave applications specifically for aerospace applications with the volume, weight, bandwidth and power constraints. These advances can be credited to device innovation, improved modeling and design and development of advanced materials and construction techniques. This thesis aims at advancing the present technology of TWTs with coupled resonator slow-wave structures (SWSs) by a combination of device innovation, development of enhanced analytical and field analysis codes and understanding gained through improved modeling, simulation and experimentation. In a TWT, the SWS that slows the RF wave velocity down to near the electron beam velocity for interaction with the electron beam primarily determines the microwave performances of the tube. As compared to helix SWS, the coupled resonator SWS is capable of handling high peak and average powers with higher efficiency and TWTs based on these SWS are well suited for air-borne or space-borne radar systems and the major focus of this thesis is on the analysis and design of coupled resonator SWSs. As a part of this thesis, improved analytical codes based on quasi-TEM analysis and equivalent circuit analysis have been developed. The technical formulation is explained and the improvements made for enhanced accuracy and for incorporation of different types of coupled resonator SWSs detailed. Using these models new variants of coupled resonator SWSs have been investigated. The SWSs proposed are the ladder-core inverted slot mode SWS and the inductively loaded inter digital SWS (ILID-SWS). The possibility of achieving both coalesced mode design that gives wide bandwidth and multi beam design that improves the peak power and gain using rectangular ILID-SWS is presented. The properties of these proposed SWSs have been compared with the existing SWSs and found to give superior performance. Also an improved modeling and simulation technique using 3-D electromagnetic codes has been proposed and the conventional cold test measurement procedure has been modified for more accurate results. Numerous illustrative examples are presented throughout the thesis highlighting the analytical model and simulation code validation with experimental results. The experimentations have been carried out on the real SWS model that have been fabricated and assembled. Further, the contribution of the thesis is towards the development of a field analysis model for analysis of a corrugated waveguide SWS, based on the coupled integral equation technique (CIET), which is a combination of mode matching technique (MMT) and method of moments. The technical formulation and computational methodology employed in the model are explained and some of the most important aspects of implementation like the handling of singularities and choice of parameters controlling the accuracy is discussed. The accuracy and speed of the code is demonstrated by comparing CIET with MMT and 3-D electro magnetic simulators based on finite difference time domain (FDTD) method and finite element method (FEM). The CIET code developed is quite faster than the existing numerical methods and helps in solving the convergence problem associated with the MMT.