TECHNOLOGY
Elve solves world’s connectivity challenges utilizing advanced manufacturing and novel materials in millimeter wave TWT amplifiers, or TWTAs.
TWTAs
TWT is a type of a vacuum electronic device that amplifies signal over a wide range of frequencies; a combination of a TWT and a dedicated power supply is called a TWTA. Vacuum electronics operate in vacuum and enable interaction between electrons and electromagnetic waves. Vacuum electronics are one of few types of electronic devices capable of generating or amplifying signals at millimeter wave and sub-terahertz frequencies with high efficiency.
TWT consists of an electron emission and focusing section that directs the electron stream into an RF circuit section where electromagnetic wave interacts with an electron beam for signal amplification. High efficiency TWTs also include electron sorting and collection section for energy recovery reaching 30-50% total system efficiency.
Elve millimeter wave TWTAs are commonly employed in high data rate communications applications, but can also be utilized in imaging, radar, energy, and other defense and scientific applications.
Nanocomposite Materials
Electron emitter is an essential component of a vacuum electronic device. Emission quality and continuity determines the TWTA performance as well as its lifetime. Numerous vacuum electronic devices, including TWTAs on the Voyager probes, have been designed and operated for decades. When high performance devices, such as millimeter wave TWTs, are being developed and deployed, electron emitter materials are often pushed to their temperature limit to reach high emission.
Elve produces electron emitter materials from powder synthesis through integration with its heating element. Patented nanocomposite scandate tungsten material is used as a matrix for the barium calcium aluminate ensuring high electron emission can be achieved at the reduced operating temperatures extending operational lifetime of high performance devices.
Advanced Manufacturing
Manufacturing of vacuum electronics 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 vacuum electronics is time consuming and costly even at low frequencies. Devices operating at millimeter wave frequencies impose additional challenges on electron emission, focusing, and propagation. Furthermore, fabrication of the RF circuit requires microscale tolerances and nanoscale surface quality. Finally, limited material options restrict power handling capability of these state-of-the-art devices.
Elve employs advanced manufacturing technologies make millimeter wave TWTAs widely available. Implementing recent developments in additive manufacturing, automation, and materials enables ELve to transform how TWTAs are produced delivering widely affordable products.
