Millimeter-wave periodic surface lattices for mode control in vacuum electronic sources

Abstract

Periodic surface lattice (PSL) structures of planar geometry have been designed, constructed and measured. The motivation is to study the evolution of electromagnetic fields stimulated by PSLs to improve mode control in overmoded structures in high power electron beam driven THz vacuum electronic sources. The results of studies of the planar structures are presented. Prior to the experimental studies numerical simulations have been carried out and results are compared with experimental measurements. It is demonstrated that volume and surface fields can couple so as to form a cavity eigenmode, which has the potential to be selectively and efficiently excited.