A 60 GHz, 200 kW CW gyrotron with a pure output mode†

For the first time, a Varian 60 GHz gyrotron designed specifically to generate microwaves in a single output mode has been operated at power levels up to 200 kW CW. Using mode-specific directional couplers, measurements of the output mode content indicated that greater than 95% of the microwave output was in the desired TE02 mode with only small percentages in the neighbouring TE01 and TE03 circular electric modes. High output-mode purity is required for the efficient utilization of gyrotrons as high-power microwave sources for electron cyclotron resonance heating (ECRH) in magnetic fusion plasmas.