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Details of Grant 

EPSRC Reference: EP/G036659/1
Title: High power mm and sub-mm wave amplifiers for high frequency ESR/DNP, high resolution radar and remote sensing
Principal Investigator: Phelps, Professor ADR
Other Investigators:
Ronald, Professor K Cross, Professor A
Researcher Co-Investigators:
Dr W He
Project Partners:
Microwave International Ltd University of St Andrews
Department: Physics
Organisation: University of Strathclyde
Scheme: Standard Research
Starts: 01 April 2009 Ends: 31 March 2013 Value (£): 771,109
EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:
RF & Microwave Technology
EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:
No relevance to Underpinning Sectors
Related Grants:
EP/G03818X/1
Panel History:
Panel DatePanel NameOutcome
29 Jan 2009 ICT Prioritisation Panel (January 2009) Announced
Summary on Grant Application Form
In a gyrotron, electrons gyrating in a magnetic field are coupled to electromagnetic radiation in such a manner that the radiation is amplified by extracting the electron kinetic energy. We will investigate a novel concept which uses a helical corrugation on the inside surface of a 'cylindrical' waveguide to radically modify the wave dispersion giving eigenmodes with finite, constant group velocity in the region of near infinite phase velocity. This novel dispersion opens up for the first time the potential for a high power (5kW), broadband (10%), high gain >40dB, efficient (30%) gyrotron amplifier in the 90GHz to 100GHz frequency range and above. We have performed a preliminary experiment at X-band (8GHz to 10GHz) frequencies and will build on our lead to create an amplifier in the W-band (90GHz to 100GHz) frequency band based on the best understanding of this new concept and perform precision measurements of its gain, bandwidth, efficiency and stability against oscillations. New theory and computational models benchmarked against W-band experimental data will be used to demonstrate the potential for this novel amplifier to generate high frequency (360GHz to 400GHz and 460GHz to 500GHz), high power (~0.5kW), broadband (10%), pulsed and continuous coherent radiation crucially needed by the many known applications.
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Organisation Website: http://www.strath.ac.uk