81–86 GHz E-band 90 watts high power traveling wave tubes

Abstract

In this paper we report on the development of a millimeter wave (MMW) broadband high power traveling wave tube (TWT). Specifically, a solid state vacuum device (SSVD <sup xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">™</sup> ) based E-band TWT that covers the bandwidth of 81-86 GHz with a saturated power of around 90 Watts. Our SSVD <sup xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">™</sup> technology approach employs solid state integrated circuit design and fabrication for the beam-wave interaction circuit slow wave structure to realize and achieve high performance MMW TWTs. The E-band TWT uses a novel coupled cavity type beam-wave interaction structure ideal for microfabrication manufacturing and high performance at MMW high frequencies. The E-band SSVD <sup xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">™</sup> based TWT is designed with a cathode voltage of 16 kV. This E- band SSVD <sup xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">™</sup> based TWT has a gain of 25 dB and was achieved with a single-stage beam-wave interaction structure without a sever. It was designed to provide 50 Watts of linear output power when driven by a watt-level solid state driver. The SSVD <sup xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">™</sup> based E-band TWT is 11"×2.2"×2.7" (L×W×H) and weighs less than 5 pounds.