Submillimeter backward-wave oscillator

Lewis Research Center is conducting a program to develop a series of backward-wave oscillators (BWOs) for use as voltage tunable local oscillators in spectrometers deployed above the Earth's atmosphere. The project goal is to produce an oscillator with an operating frequency of 2 THz. The BWO program has produced a number of successful design innovations. These include a microfabricated circuit on a diamond substrate, an optical output coupler, and a high-impedance slow wave structure. Experiments being conducted on the BWO are briefly described.<
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