650 GHz Diamond Based Backward Wave Oscillator

DARPA wishes to develop a video rate imaging system operating at the atmospheric window in the vicinity of 650 GHz. One essential component of such a system would be a compact, efficient source of radiation, capable of producing at least 10 mW with at least 1% efficiency at 650 GHz. The diamond based backward wave oscillator (BWO) proposed here is predicted to exceed these requirements. The BWO introduces novel slow wave circuit and fabrication concepts and makes use of silicon microfabrication and liquid crystal display technologies that have not previously been applied to the manufacture of vacuum electron devices to provide a miniature, energy efficient, electronically tunable and mass producible signal source in the sub mm wavelength regime. The technologies of fabrication and design that are proposed here for use in the development of the BWO have been pioneered by the offerors or are readily available from competent vendors.