| Abstract: | NASA Lewis Research Center is engaged in a program to develop a series of backward wave oscillators (BWO's) for the frequency range 500 to 2000 GHz. Generically BWO's are electron beam traveling wave tubes operating in a dispersive regime in which the group velocity and the phase velocity of the induced electromagnetic wave are in opposite directions. The oscillation frequency of a BWO is controlled by the electron beam velocity (anode voltage).Such tubes because of their frequency tunability, phase locking capability, and large bandwidth are ideal local oscillators for heterdyne receiver/spectrometers.The design of the BWO's will be discussed with emphasis on the etched slow wave structure, zero compression electron beam, long life cathode, and moderate operating voltages. |
