Vacuum Electronics (VEs)

VEs operate in vacuum and enable interaction between electrons and electromagnetic (EM) waves. VEs are one of few types of devices capable of generating or amplifying signals at millimeter wave and sub-terahertz frequencies; VEs are the only devices capable of delivering high power at high efficiency at these frequencies.

VEs consist of an electron emission and focusing section that directs the electron stream into an electron - EM wave interaction section for signal amplification. High efficiency VEs also feature electron sorting and collection section for energy recovery.

Travelling wave tubes (TWTs) are a subset of VEs that can amplify EM signals by more than 100 times over a wide bandwidth of frequencies and are commonly used for communications and imaging applications.

Advanced Manufacturing

Manufacturing of VEs is a complex process requiring fabrication, integration, and precision alignment of multiple components and sub-assemblies. Well established manufacturing approaches utilize conventional material forming techniques and rely on accurate assembly and testing by skilled personnel. As a result, the manufacturing process of VEs is time consuming and costly even at low frequencies. VEs operating at near-terahertz frequencies impose additional challenges on electron emission, focusing, and propagation. Furthermore, fabrication of the electron beam - EM wave interaction region requires microscale tolerances and nanoscale surface quality. Finally, limited material options restrict power handling capability of these state-of-the-art devices.

Advanced manufacturing technologies are essential for implementation of widely available VEs at near-terahertz frequencies. Recent developments in agile manufacturing, automation, and materials transforms how VEs are produced delivering application focused widely affordable products.