Status of the los Alamos Gyrocon

The gyrocon is a deflection-modulated RF amplifier that can achieve very high peak-and average-output power, as well as excellent direct-current-to-radio-frequency conversion efficiency. The electron dynamics of the gyrocon are analyzed with a large-signal computer code that is used to design a prototype gyrocon. This gyrocon is now built and it has been operated at low duty cycle. The design goals, construction details, and initial operating results of the prototype gyrocon are discussed.