Optimization of 0.

1 THz Planar Interaction

Structure for Higher Efficiency
Subhendu Chakraborty N. Purushothaman Nikita Gurjar
Department of Physics Microwave Tubes Division Microwave Tubes Division
The University of Burdwan CSIR-CEERI CSIR-CEERI
Burdwan, West Bengal, India-713104 Pilani, Rajasthan, India-333031 Pilani, Rajasthan, India-333031
[email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

Niraj Kumar R. K Sharma

Microwave Tubes Division Microwave Tubes Division
CSIR-CEERI CSIR-CEERI
Pilani, Rajasthan, India – 333031 Pilani, Rajasthan, India - 333031
[email protected] [email protected]

Abstract – In this paper, simulation studies on 0.1 THz II. DESIGN AND DIMENSIONS
planar slow wave interaction structure for Backward Wave A 3D Model of the basic SWS unit cell as designed in CST
Oscillators (BWOs) have been presented. The normalized is presented in Fig. 1. The dimensions are as proposed by
phase velocity and dispersion variation profiles for different Lai et al. [3], reproduced in this paper, and are represented
beam tunnel width to height ratios are analyzed using Eigen
in a tabular format in TABLE I. The width dimensions of
mode simulations in CST Microwave Studio. Axial electric
field amplitude with interaction impedance profile for different different aspect ratios, like 6:1, 8:1 and 10:1, also have been
aspect ratios, are also analyzed as a optimization study of effect presented in TABLE II.
of beam tunnel width to height ratio with the BWO operation
and its frequency range. TABLE I. 5.1:1 UNIT CELL DIMENSIONS
Pitch Vane Vane Beam Width
(p) Height Thickness Tunnel (w)
Keywords – Backward Wave Oscillator (BWO), Planar (h) (g) Height
Interaction Structure, Slow Wave Structure (SWS), Dispersion (t)
Dimensions 1.066 0.658 0.269 0.350 1.786
Units mm mm mm mm mm
I. INTRODUCTION
Terahertz waves and technology has a wide usage in high
power and high resolution radars and also in high data rate
communications, terahertz spectroscopy and terahertz
imaging and sensing [1]. Terahertz high frequency radiation
can be achieved by several approaches including Free h
Electron Laser (FEL), Quantum Cascaded Laser (QCL), g
Optical Terahertz Radiation, solid state devices and Vacuum t
w
Electronic Devices (VEDs). Terahertz high frequency
radiation in VEDs is achieved by using Backward Wave
Oscillators (BWOs). BWOs are Cerenkov radiation type
devices consisting of SWS. Within the SWS, electron beam, p
emitted from the electron gun, interacts with the axial
component of electric field. So, for beam wave interaction,
axial field component must be present. The presence of the Fig. 1. Unit Cell for aspect Ratio 5.1:1 designed in CST Microwave
axial component of electric field has been studied by Studio
varying the width of the beam tunnel aperture. The
dimensions for the beam tunnel aperture of a W-band Width of the BWO SWS unit cell has been varied according
staggered double vane SWS has been chosen as proposed by to different aspect ratios, without affecting the other
Lai et al. [3]. The width of the beam tunnel has been varied dimensions and height of the beam tunnel.
for different aspect ratios and its effect on their phase
velocity profile, operating frequency range and interaction TABLE II. SWS WIDTH DIMENSIONS FOR DIFFERENT ASPECT RATIOS
impedance profile have been studied and presented here. All Aspect Ratios Width Dimensions Units
the simulations have been carried out with the help of CST
Microwave Studio Suite [4] 6:1 2.1 mm
8:1 2.8 mm
10:1 3.5 mm
 III. ANALYSIS AND SIMULATION
Simulation studies for different unit cells with different Less interaction impedance attributes to low Ez field
beam tunnel width to height aspect ratios are performed component in the axial direction (Fig. 3) signifying lesser
using CST Microwave Studio [4]. Eigen mode solver is used beam to wave energy conversion or interaction.
to perform the simulations for the dimensions according to
TABLE I and TABLE II. In [3] the simulations were
performed for TWT operation, phase constant 360 to 540,
forward wave region, but the unit cell reproduced in this
paper according to TABLE I, have been simulated for
backward wave region, phase constant 180 to 360 along
with the other unit cells with different aspect ratios in
TABLE II, to study the performance of the SWS unit cell as
Backward Wave Oscillator. For phase constant 180 to 360,
the SWS will have downward going or negative slope for
dispersion characteristics, for which group velocity of the
SWS will be negative, causing essential back ward wave
propagation for BWO.

IV. RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS

Simulation studies, of beam tunnel width to height,
according to different aspect ratios (TABLE II), are Fig. 3. Axial electric field amplitude for unit cells with different aspect
ratios
compared and presented in Fig. 2 and Fig. 3. It can be seen
from Fig. 2 that the normalized phase velocity and As the beam tunnel width of the BWO SWS unit cell is
interaction impedance of the SWS is decreasing and increasing, the frequency of operation of the BWO SWS is
frequency range is also getting decreased with the increase shifting lower caused by decrement in cut-off frequency of
in beam tunnel width. operation of fundamental and higher order modes within
SWS with less normalized phase velocity. Axial electric
field (Z axis) amplitude is also deteriorating (Fig. 3) with
the increment in beam tunnel width, which means there will
be small amount of axial electric field to interact, resulting
less interaction impedance of the SWS (Fig. 2a). Thus an
optimization study of beam tunnel width to height ratio and
its effect on axial electric field amplitude for higher
interaction impedance and efficiency has been presented.

V. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
We would like to thanks the Director, CSIR-Central
Electronics Engineering Research Institute and all the staffs
and members of Microwave Tubes Division of CSIR-
CEERI.

(a)
REFERENCES
[1] Peter H. Siegel, “Terahertz Technology,” IEEE Trans. Microw.
Theory Tech, vol. 50, no. 3, pp. 910-928, March 2002.

[2] Mauro Mineo, Claudio Paolini, “Double-Corrugated Rectangular

Waveguide Slow-wave Structure for Terahertz Vacuum Devices,”
IEEE Trans. Electron Devices, vol. 57, no. 11, pp. 3169-3175,
November 2010.

[3] Jianqiang Lai, Yubin Gong, Xiong Xu, Yanyu Wei, Zhaoyun Duan,
Wenxiang Wang, Jinjun Feng, “W-Band 1-kW Staggered Double-
Vane Travelling-Wave Tube,” IEEE Trans. Electron Devices, vol.
59, no. 2, pp. 496-503, February 2012

[4] CST AG, Dramstadt,Germany,CST STUDIO SUITE. Accessed:

2018 [Online], Available: www.cst.com

(b)
Fig. 2. Comparative study of unit cells with different aspect ratios (a)
normalized phase velocity (b) interaction impedance.