Description
The objective of this activity is to design, manufacture and test a Travelling Wave Tube (TWT) breadboard using comb delay-line technology in V- or W-band.
Targeted Improvements: Enable a European source for a V and W-band TWT, 100 W CW output power, 30% efficiency and 5 GHz bandwidth.
Description:
Helix delay line technology is well proven and space-qualified up to Q-band. It has a significant benefit for space TWTs, where large instantaneous bandwidth is requested, typically up to 20% fractional bandwidth. For V- and W-band applications, RF power levels of greater than 100W are foreseen. For such high frequencies and power levels, a helixdelay line is not suitable due to the small helix cross sectional dimensions, which limit the structure's power handling capability.
A potential solution is to employ comb delay-line technology (folded waveguide), which can achieve the required power handling capability at higher frequencies with greater than 5 GHz instantaneous bandwidth. This technology is well established in Europe for ground telecommunications applications in the frequency range 92 - 95 GHz.
The aim of this activity is to design, manufacture and test comb delay-line technology for TWT space applications. This includes selection and evaluation of materials to replace those used in ground applications that are not suitable for use in space, as well as the development of an end-to-end manufacturing process. The comb delay-line concept will be evaluated by analysis and simulation for V- and W-Band TWTs. One frequency band will be selectedand test-vehicles will be manufactured and tested to verify the comb delay-line technology. Finally, a TWT breadboard will be designed, manufactured and tested to fully evaluate the comb delay-line technology.
Footnote: On Delegation Request activities will only be initiated on the explicit request of at least one National Delegation.