Sub-THz traveling wave amplifiers based on the double corrugated waveguide

Summary form only given. The importance of the sub-THz (0.1-1 THz) portion of the spectrum is recognized fundamental for many applications. In particular, the region around 0.22 THz is suitable for high data rate communications
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and imaging due the low atmospheric attenuation window. However, high power is needed in this frequency range to provide a reasonable length of the transmission path. Vacuum electron devices represent so far the only viable solution for relatively output power at those frequencies. Wideband Traveling Wave Tube Amplifiers (TWTAs) operating in the 0.22 THz range were demonstrated with relevant performance
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. The high cost of TWTAs still prevents their wide market diffusion. The double corrugated waveguide (DCW) is a slow wave structure of easy fabrication and assembly. A TWT based on the DCW is presented as possible affordable approach
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. A relative high output power (3.7W) over a wide bandwidth (20 GHz) centered at 0.23THz was demonstrated, with 13kV beam voltage and 30mA beam current. The wideband performance is related to the superposition of the beam line with the dispersion curve over a wide frequency region. The optimization of the DCW dimensions is then a crucial step to assure wideband amplification. A study on the definition of the widest synchronism region is proposed. The aim is to extend the region included between the lower and upper cutoff frequencies of the dispersion curve and to control the its slope, maintaining a low beam voltage and suitable values of interaction impedance and losses.