Development of a Three-Stage Series Cathode High-Voltage Power Supply for Frequency Tuning of Terahertz Gyrotrons
Yu Xiaohan1,2, Zhang Shaozhe1,2, Yang Chunhui1,2, Xiao Houxiu1,2, Han Xiaotao1,2
1. Wuhan National High Magnetic Field Center Huazhong University of Science and Technology Wuhan 430074 China; 2. State Key Laboratory of Advanced Electromagnetic Technology School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering Huazhong University of Science and Technology Wuhan 430074 China
Abstract：Terahertz (THz) gyrotrons, as high-power compact radiation sources, are gaining increasing importance in various scientific and industrial applications due to their ability to generate terahertz radiation. The need for tunable output frequencies in dynamic nuclear polarization nuclear magnetic resonance (DNP-NMR) and electron spin resonance (ESR) necessitates a power supply capable of rapid frequency modulation and high output stability. This paper designs a three-stage series-cathode high-voltage power supply to meet the requirements of rapid frequency modulation and high voltage stability in gyrotron frequency-tuning applications. Firstly, the proposed power supply topology is introduced, and the function of each stage is elaborated. The system comprises an LCC resonant high-voltage converter, a fast-modulation power supply, and a linear filtering power supply. The primary stage employs the LCC resonant topology to deliver the required high-voltage output. However, its slow modulation speed and high ripple level make it unsuitable for the frequency modulation and stabilization of gyrotrons. Therefore, the second-stage power supply handles rapid voltage modulation. It employs a single-ended forward converter topology to enable rapid voltage modulation and quick frequency tuning. The tertiary stage is a linear filtering power supply that uses a linear MOSFET operating in the linear region to suppress high-frequency ripple. This stage ensures a stable high output voltage, thereby achieving high precision in the gyrotron’s output frequency. The power system features three operating modes: Reference Mode, Tuning Mode, and Stabilization Mode, catering to the gyrotron’s requirements for high-voltage output capability, rapid frequency modulation, and high-voltage stability. An experimental system for the three-stage power supply was constructed, and tests were performed to verify its frequency modulation and stabilization performance. Results show that the proposed system has a nominal reference output voltage of 20 kV. In frequency modulation mode, it achieves a voltage modulation rate of 1.8 kV/10 kHz; in frequency stabilization mode, it attains an output voltage stability better than 0.1%, demonstrating effective rapid modulation and ripple suppression. The system enables the gyrotron to achieve a 20 MHz frequency-modulation bandwidth and enhances frequency stability to better than 10×10-6.
余晓涵, 张绍哲, 杨春辉, 肖后秀, 韩小涛. 用于太赫兹回旋管频率调谐的三级串联阴极高压电源研制[J]. 电工技术学报, 2026, 41(20): 6807-6818.
Yu Xiaohan, Zhang Shaozhe, Yang Chunhui, Xiao Houxiu, Han Xiaotao. Development of a Three-Stage Series Cathode High-Voltage Power Supply for Frequency Tuning of Terahertz Gyrotrons. Transactions of China Electrotechnical Society, 2026, 41(20): 6807-6818.
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