A two-dimensional (2D), cylindrical, periodic surface lattice (PSL) forming a surface field cavity is considered. The lattice is created by introducing 2D periodic perturbations on the inner surface of a cylindrical waveguide. The PSL facilitates a resonant coupling of the surface and near cutoff volume fields, leading to the formation of a high-Q cavity eigenmode. The cavity eigenmode is described and investigated using a modal approach, considering the model of a cylindrical waveguide partially loaded with a metadielectric. By using a PSL-based cavity, the concept of a high-power, 0.2-THz Cherenkov source is developed. It is shown that if the PSL satisfies certain defined conditions, single-mode operation is observed.

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For the creation of novel coherent sub-THz sources excited by electron beams there is a requirement to manufacture intricate periodic structures to produce and radiate electromagnetic fields. The specification and the measured performance is reported of a periodic structure constructed by additive manufacturing and used successfully in an electron beam driven sub-THz radiation source. Additive manufacturing, or “3D printing”, is promising to be quick and cost-effective for prototyping these periodic structures

Analytical, numerical, and experimental studies of volume and surface-field coupling in planar metal periodic surface lattice (PSL) structures superimposed on dielectric substrates with a metallic backing (PSLDM) are presented. We show the formation of frequency-locked PSLDM-coupled eigenmodes and unlocked surface-field resonances (PSL without substrate). These experimental observations are in excellent agreement with theoretical and numerical predictions. For the first time, the derivation of a field coupling coefficient α is demonstrated. By comparing theoretical and numerical dispersions, we obtain α. Detailed analysis of possible scattering mechanisms and dispersive behavior in subwavelength "effective metadielectric" PSLs is shown. The theory and measurements presented in this paper are applicable over a broad frequency range from optical frequencies to THz and are fundamental to the innovation of high-power short-wavelength sources, solar cells, and alternative subwavelength absorbers.

Planar Periodic Surface Lattice (PSL) structures of different configurations have been designed, fabricated and measured in the 140-220 GHz frequency band. Surface mode resonances are observed in ‘mesh’ PSL structures. We establish that, when mounted on suitable metal-backed dielectric substrates, PSLs exhibit ‘mode-locked’ coherent cavity eigenmodes formed from coupled volume and surface modes. The ‘proof-of-principle’ coupling of volume and surface modes and concept of mode selection in a large cavity, which can lead to the innovation of high power mm-THz radiation sources, is demonstrated. Evidence of coupled eigenmode formation in a 0.64 mm planar PSL measured at 325-500 GHz is presented, verifying the scalability of this work. Excellent agreement between numerical modelling and experiment is reported.