High-Power Tunable Terahertz Radiation by High-Order Harmonic Generation

We propose a new type of terahertz (THz) radiation source based on the electron beam-wave interaction. A high-order harmonic-generation process was introduced to a traveling-wave tube (TWT)-like device-the high-harmonic TWT or HHTWT. The scheme is configured as a frequency multiplier and amplifier with W-band (millimeter wave) input signals and THz output power. Simulations show that operation at the seventh harmonic is possible and other order harmonic waves were suppressed. The output frequency can be tuned continuously over a 30-GHz bandwidth with more than 20-dBm output power. The peak output power is about 30 dBm at 707 GHz. The output frequency is insensitive to beam voltage jitter.