Optimization of the design of cusptron microwave oscillators

A non-linear theory of the cusptron microwaveoscillator is presented. The phase trapping of the azimuthally bunched electrons is considered to be the saturation mechanism of the instability. The functional dependences of the saturation efficiency n on the beam energy, and on the ratio of the radius b of the vane to the inner radius a of the N slotted waveguide, where N = 8, 10 and 12 for 2π modeoperation, and N = 16, 20 and 24 for π mode operation, are numerically illustrated. Acomparison between π mode and 2π mode operation is made and the optimized design parameters are determined.