Comprehensive simulations of compact THz radiation sources using microfabricated, folded waveguide TWTs

Microfabricated folded waveguide traveling wave tubes (FWG-TWT) are potential compact sources of wideband (/spl sim/20% instantaneous bandwidth), high power (0.01 - 1 W) THz radiation. We present numerical simulations indicating that a 560 GHz, 56 mW, 1% (intrinsic) efficiency oscillator is realistically achievable, and a 400 GHz amplifier with gains between 10 and 30 dB are feasible with circuit lengths of a few centimeters. We also discuss a scale-model experiment at 50 GHz to investigate an oscillator concept using a recirculated power feedback approach.