Operation of a compact, 0.65 THz source

A compact, 0.65 THz vacuum electronic source based on micro-fabricated folded waveguide circuit technology has been demonstrated. The resonant circuits in the prototype devices were made using deep reactive ion etching. Several sources were built and operated between 0.605 and 0.675 THz. RF powers up to 98 mW were generated by the circuits, with a maximum of 50 mW measured outside the output window. Circuit interaction efficiencies of 0.45% were also achieved. These measurements were made at duty cycles up to 3%.