Terahertz backward wave oscillator circuits

This work focuses on increasing the electric field mode-electron beam interaction in terahertz backward-wave oscillators through increasing the interaction impedance of the slow wave circuit. In a backward wave oscillator (BWO) or a traveling wave tube (TWT), the electric field traveling in the waveguide interacts with an electron beam grazing or piercing the electric eld of a slow wave circuit and transfers energy from the beam to the circuit mode. The mechanism of this interaction is analyzed and the traditional model is adapted to provide one that is scalable to terahertz frequencies. The efficiency of the BWO can be enhanced by improving the interaction between the beam and the circuit modes, utilizing beam sources with greater current densities and using larger magnetic fields. This work presents the results on the modeling, fabrication and performance of the mode-piercing and mode-grazing slow wave circuits studied.