A 3-D Printed Helix for Traveling-Wave Tubes
G. Ulisse1, P. Schürch2, E. Hepp2, W.W. Koelmans2, R. Doerner3, and V. Krozer1,3
Published in:
IEEE Trans. Electron Devices, vol. 69, no. 11, pp. 6358-6361 (2022).
Abstract:
In this work, a 3-D printed copper helix for a traveling-wave tube (TWT) is reported. The fabricated helix was designed to be used in a TWT operating at millimeter-wave frequencies (60-80 GHz). The helix was realized with an additive micromanufacturing technique (µAM). Measurements were also performed to estimate the losses of the printed material and evaluate the RF performance of deposited copper. Simulations showed that a TWT based on the 3-D printed helix can have a gain of about 30 dB at 66 GHz and a 1-dB bandwidth of about 5 GHz. The estimated losses from RF measurements reveal an RF copper conductivity of about 2 × 107 S/m, measured in air without any surface cleaning steps, which is a very good value and comparable to bulk copper conductivity in the millimeter-wave range.
1 Department of Physics, Goethe University, Frankfurt, 60438 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
2 Exaddon AG, 8152 Glattbrugg, Switzerland
3 Ferdinand-Braun-Institut (FBH) gGmbH, 12489 Berlin, Germany
Index Terms:
3-D printing, millimeter-wave amplifiers, traveling-wave tube (TWT).
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