Design of a low voltage and high power Traveling Wave Tube based on a sheet-beam ring bar

Abstract

In this article, a sheet-beam type ring bar traveling wave tube (RBTWT) capable of working at very low-voltage value is proposed. The structure is designed to work over the frequency range from 14 to 18 GHz with a cathodic voltage of 2.050 kV and a current of 100 mA. Simulation results for two 50-period sections, carried out by CST Studio Suite 2023,show a saturated output power of 30W, a maximum gain of 0.795 dB/mm, and an efficiency higher than 15%. The proposed structure is ideal for aerospace applications that usually require compact size, low weight and power consumption, while maintaining very high output power levels. Furthermore, thisdeviceisrelativelyeasytomanufacture,makingitamoreaccessibleoption thanotherstructuresthatrequirecomplexandexpensivemanufacturingprocesses.Finally, the mechanical and thermal dissipation problems are kept under control thanks to the large surface contact between the slow wave structure and the dielectric rod realized in Boron Nitride.