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Enormous concerns focus on the high-power and wide bandwidth traveling-wave tube (TWT) for its outstanding performance. In this article, a shape-optimized staggered double-vane slow-wave structure (SWS) for terahertz (THz) sheet beam TWT is proposed. The shape-optimized staggered double-vane SWS takes the advantages of higher interaction impedance, lower transmission loss, and lower phase velocity than conventional staggered double-vane SWSs. The shape-optimized staggered double-vane SWS with 85 periods is designed, fabricated, and cold tested. The measured transmission loss of the shape-optimized staggered double-vane SWS is less than 0.79 dB/cm in the frequency range of 0.211–0.26 THz, which is in good agreement with the simulation results. Furthermore, the beam–wave interaction analysis of a sheet beam TWT with this SWS is given. The output power is predicted to be >100 W with 3-dB bandwidth of >50 GHz. The results show that the shape-optimized staggered double-vane SWS is a very promising scheme to construct a high-power and wideband THz TWT for future applications such as communication and imaging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A $Q$ -band traveling-wave tube (TWT) with profiled helix pitches and profiled inner diameters of slow wave structure (SWS) is proposed. The transmission characteristics of the $Q$ -band TWT are simulated by the Computer Simulation Technology (CST). In the operating frequency band (36.5–41.5 GHz), the simulated voltage standing wave ratio (VSWR) is less than 1.5. In addition, the beam–wave interaction is simulated to predict the performance of the $Q$ -band TWT when the beam voltage and beam current are 8.5 kV and 60 mA, respectively, and the axial focusing magnetic field is 0.4 T. In the operating frequency band, the self-oscillation is well suppressed, and the device efficiency of the $Q$ -band TWT exceeds 63.5%, and the saturated output power and gain exceed 83 W and 45 dB, respectively, especially the device efficiency can reach the maximum of 69.5% at 37 GHz. When it is backed off 6 dB from the saturation, the device efficiency exceeds 40.5%, up to 42.7% at 39 GHz. Preliminary experiments have confirmed the design. These results show that the proposed $Q$ -band TWT has important applications to the next generation wireless communication system with high efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The angular log-periodic meander-line traveling wave tube (TWT) is a kind of low voltage, small-sized, high power, low cost, on chip amplifiers, and considered as a key part of the advanced communication systems, the future biomedical applications and the next electronic counter measure (ECM) instruments et al. Here, an angular log-periodic meander-line TWT is presented in this article. The angular log-periodic meander-line slow wave structure (SWS) is supported by two diamond rods. The dispersion and the impedance characteristics are analyzed in detail. In order to reduce the reflection loss, a gradual ridged waveguide is connecting the input–output standard rectangular waveguide to the meander-line SWS. The particle in cell (PIC) simulations show that the output power of the TWT can reach 55 W at 34 GHz with the operation voltage of 1800 V and the beam current of 0.2 A. The SWS is manufactured by a laser machine with Molybdenum sheet. The assembled TWT is tested and the results show that the ${S}_{{11}}$ is less than −10 dB at 30–39 GHz. The ${S}_{{21}}$ mismatch between the simulated and the measurement is discussed at the end. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, a novel dielectric-supported staggered dual-meander-line (DS-SDML) planar slow-wave structure (SWS) is proposed for a traveling wave tube (TWT) working at ${E}$ -band. The proposed staggered arrangement of meander-lines (MLs) leads to a stronger beam–wave interaction and achieves higher output power as compared to the symmetric arrangement. The input–output couplers have been designed by using staggered stepped double ridge waveguide, to connect the standard ${E}$ -band rectangular waveguide and the DS-SDML SWS. An attenuator and pitch tapering have been applied to the proposed SWS to suppress the unwanted frequencies and to improve the output power. Particle-in-cell (PIC) simulation results show that for an 11.8-kV, 200-mA sheet-beam, the output power can reach 283 W at 75 GHz, with a maximum gain and electronic efficiency of 34.5 dB and 11.9%, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel slow wave structure (SWS), named staggered double corrugated waveguide (SDCW), is proposed for the development of wideband high-power terahertz (THz) traveling wave tubes (TWTs). The SDCW-SWS not only has the wideband characteristic of staggered double grating (SDG) but also has the high interaction impedance characteristic of symmetrical double grating. In addition, its tunnel width is independent of the lower cutoff frequency and can be further increased. Numerical Eigen mode calculations show that, under the same dispersion, the passband of SDCW-SWS is increased by more than 10 GHz compared with SDG-SWS, and the average interaction impedance at 195 GHz is increased by about 62%. A particle-in-cell simulation analysis confirms that the average output power, saturated gain, and electron efficiency of SDCW-TWT at 195 GHz are ~110 W, ~20.34 dB, and ~5.46%, respectively, when the operating voltage is 20 kV and the beam current is 100 mA. Therefore, SDCW is a promising slow wave circuit of wideband high-power THz traveling wave amplifier. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel modified angular log-periodic folded waveguide slow wave structure (MALPFW-SWS) is proposed for high-gain traveling wave tubes (TWTs). Each unit of the MALPFW-SWS has different dispersion characteristics and thus it has the ability to suppress oscillations in TWTs. The dispersion equation of the MALPFW-SWS is derived and a Ka-band MALPFW-SWS is designed according to the dispersion equation for verification. The particle-in-cell (PIC) simulation indicated that the output signal is steady even the gain of the designed MALPFW-TWT reaches 40 dB. The frequency spectrum of the output signal also proved that the MALPFW-SWS can suppress oscillations. The cold test experiment results show that the transmission characteristics of the fabricated MALPFW-SWS are good and are in good agreement with the simulation results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traveling wave tube (TWT) is an attractive solution for wideband and high-power sources or amplifiers in the terahertz (THz) band. In this article, a novel slow-wave structure (SWS) for TWT, named double tunnel sine waveguide (DTSW), which is based on sine waveguide (SW), is proposed. The following key technologies are adopted: 1) the rectangular holes, at which the operating mode is cutoff, are alternately opened on the sine-shaped ridges to form two electron beam tunnels and 2) the lower surface of rectangular holes is flush with the top of sine-shaped ridges. Compared with the SW-SWS, DTSW-SWS has the wider operating band and higher interaction impedance under the condition that the phase velocity of the two SWSs is at the same level. In addition, DTSW-SWS is simple in structure and easy to fabricate. The particle-in-cell simulation results reveal that DTSW-TWT has an output power of more than 202 W in the frequency range of 202–255 GHz with the maximum power of ~405 W and electron efficiency of ~9.8% at 215 GHz, under the operating voltage of 23 kV and beam current of 180 mA. Therefore, the DTSW should be considered as a promising SWS for the high-power and wideband THz traveling wave amplifier. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A high-harmonic traveling-wave tube (HHTWT) is designed, developed, and tested in this paper. This device is configured as a multiplier–amplifier with Q-band input signals and its third harmonic, i.e., D-band output power. The tested result demonstrates that 280 mW at 133.5 GHz is obtained as a result of 200 mW at 44.5-GHz input signal. The simulation and experiment validate that the high-harmonic radiation can be generated and amplified in the HHTWT. The approach described in this paper could find application in exploring high power, wideband tunable terahertz source. This paper is expanded from a conference paper on IVEC 2017. The detail design produce and tested result are added in this paper. The explanation of the simulation and tested results is also presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The symmetrical microstrip angular log-periodic meander-line (ALPML) slow-wave structure (SWS), which is suitable for Ka-band low-voltage traveling-wave tubes, is described in this paper. The dispersion characteristics and coupling impendence of this kind of SWS are achieved by simulation. A radial uniform magnetic field of 0.4 T is developed using radially magnetized permanent magnets to focus the radial sheet electron beam. To exploit the potentialities of the symmetrical ALPML SWS, the beam–wave interaction is carried out with a radial convergent and a divergent sheet electron beam. For the radial divergent electron beam with a voltage of 791 V and a current of 0.3 A, an output power over 60 W with an electron efficiency of 26% at 30 GHz is achieved from particle-in-cell simulation. The effects of misalignments and phase mismatches are carried out at the end. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]