Efficiency enhancement of a plasma-filled backward-wave oscillator by self-induced distributed feedback

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Abstract
It is shown that the high efficiency of a plasma-filled backward-wave oscillator can be accounted for by a self-induced distributed feedback mechanism, which is set up by a density grating formed in the plasma by the counterpropagating electromagnetic waves. The efficiency increases with the plasma density, up to a critical density, where the oscillations are quenched.