Investigation of terahertz sheet beam traveling wave tube amplifier with nanocomposite cathode

Journal Article · Wed Dec 15 04:00:00 EST 2010 · Physics of Plasmas

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.3525098· OSTI ID:21532109

Shin, Young-Min; Jinfeng, Zhao; Barnett, Larry R; Luhmann, Jr, Neville C ^[1]

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1. Department of Applied Science, University of California, Davis, California 95616 (United States)

Particle-in-cell simulations of a staggered double grating array traveling wave tube intended as a wideband amplifier for terahertz communications, sensing, and imaging applications showed that, for an electron beam power of 5 kW, it produces 150-275 W, corresponding to 3%-5.5% electronic efficiency, at 0.22 THz with over {approx}30% bandwidth and with greater than 12 dB/cm growth rate. The circuit has been fabricated by both UV lithography and high precision computer-numerical-control machining with {approx}2-3 {mu}m dimensional tolerance and {approx}50 nm surface roughness. A scandate nanocomposite (Sc{sub 2}O{sub 3}-W) cathode for the electron beam source has successfully emitted 120 A/cm{sup 2} (space charge limited) at 1150 deg. C and 50 A/cm{sup 2} at 1050 deg. C for 8000 h as required to produce the requisite high current density electron beam.

• OSTI ID: 21532109
• Journal Information: Physics of Plasmas, Journal Name: Physics of Plasmas Journal Issue: 12 Vol. 17; ISSN PHPAEN; ISSN 1070-664X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
AMPLIFIERS
BEAM-PLASMA SYSTEMS
BEAMS
CATHODES
CHALCOGENIDES
COMPOSITE MATERIALS
CURRENT DENSITY
ELECTRODES
ELECTRON BEAMS
ELECTRON TUBES
ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT
EQUIPMENT
LEPTON BEAMS
MATERIALS
MICROWAVE EQUIPMENT
MICROWAVE TUBES
NANOSTRUCTURES
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PARTICLE BEAMS
PLASMA SIMULATION
SCANDIUM COMPOUNDS
SCANDIUM OXIDES
SIMULATION
TRANSITION ELEMENT COMPOUNDS
TRAVELLING WAVE TUBES