A positive phase-velocity tapering of 1.5 octave broadband helix traveling-wave tubes for efficiency enhancement, where the phase velocity is linearly increased in the output section, was studied by using the one-dimensional nonlinear theory. At high frequencies, the electromagnetic wave in the positively tapered section traps the fastest electrons in the decelerating electric field, extracting more energy from the electron beam. At low frequencies, a decreased velocity difference between the electron beam and the electromagnetic wave destroys the phase condition for second-harmonic generation, retaining fundamental wave efficiency as well as reducing its second-harmonic power.
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