Microfabricated, 71-76 GHz, Helical Traveling Wave Tube

ABSTRACT:In the Phase I effort, Teraphysics completed the electrical design of all TWT components, and a thermal/mechanical analysis. This established feasibility of the proposed TWT to meet Air Force requirements. The Phase II program will complete the development of the TWT to demonstrate a laboratory model TWT operating between 71 and 76 GHz with at least 100 W average output power. Building on our successful 94 GHz TWT, Teraphysics will initiate fabrication early on in the program to allow enough time for more than one fabrication iteration, if necessary.BENEFIT:The commercial potential is enormous for wireless communications, particularly to increase through put for backhaul applications. In general, the target market includes users of compact, high efficiency (>50%), high frequency (> 60 GHz) amplifiers. The Teraphysics TWT at 71-76, 81-86 GHz, or a slightly modified version of the TWT at 140 GHz and/or 220 GHz, could be the enabling technology for ultra-high data rate transmission (10s to 100s Gbps). Projected military applications include high data rate, network-centric communications and anti-jam and low detection warfare communications; airborne, ship borne, and ground-based radar; jamming; and decoy applications. NASA applications include high data rate communications, radar, spectroscopy and remote sensing. Commercial applications include wireless and satellite communications, radar, imaging, and materials processing.