Short-wave radiation generation by strip electron beams in the surface-wave excitation mode

Abstract

The quasi-optical theory of short-wave Cherenkov oscillators, in operation of which surface waves are excited by relativistic electron beams moving above periodically corrugated structures, is constructed. π-mode oscillations characterized by the generation rate close to the Bragg frequency, as well as backward-wave tube modes in which generation rate is shifted downward from the Bragg frequency, are analyzed. It is demonstrated that surface-wave excitation can be employed to generate submillimeter radiation with multimegawatt power levels.