Prospect of Orotron in THz Regime

Abstract

Summary form only given. Interest in THz regime has generated a need for portable, compact, mW range THz source. Orotron has been shown to generate such power in the 3-400 GHz range. Further extension in frequency requires gratings in the range of tens of mum, anode voltage in tens of KV, and current density beyond current small package thermionic cathode capability. However, since gun diode and solid state amplifiers gain deteriorate considerably in this range, vacuum microelectronics like Inclitron and Orotron may be a viable option, and new field emission carbon nanotube cathode may provide short enough concentrated energy electron pulse to make this possible. MAGIC code is used to simulate electron transmission in a periodic grating. Effects of energy spread, pulse width, grating depth an d efficiency are discussed.