Fabrication of a 0.346-THz BWO for Plasma Diagnostics

Nuclear fusion energy is perhaps one of the most demanding challenges that the scientific community is facing. Unfortunately, the plasma is affected by microturbulence, which is still not fully understood, but which can degrade plasma confinement. The 0.346-THz backward-wave oscillator (BWO) is the enabling device for a high-k plasma collective scattering diagnostic that will provide unprecedented insight on turbulence thereby contributing to the realization of fully operational fusion reactors. This paper describes the final fabrication phase of the 0.346-THz BWO for the collective scattering diagnostic jointly performed in an international project, involving three leading institutions in vacuum electronics. The advancements in technology will open the route to new families of terahertz vacuum electron devices to enable new terahertz applications and provide industry with new advanced processes.