Self-Winding Helices as Slow-Wave Structures for Sub-Millimeter Traveling-Wave Tubes

We present a transformative route to obtain mass-producible helical slow-wave structures for operation in beam-wave interaction devices at THz frequencies. The approach relies on guided self-assembly of conductive nanomembranes. Our work coordinates simulations of cold helices (i.e., helices with no electron beam) and hot helices (i.e., helices that interact with an electron beam). The theoretical study determines electromagnetic fields, current distributions, and beam-wave interaction in a parameter space that has not been explored before. These parameters include microscale diameter, pitch, tape width, and nanoscale surface finish. Parametric simulations show that beam-wave interaction devices based on self-assembled and electroplated helices will potentially provide gain-bandwidth products higher than 2 dBTHz at 1 THz. Informed by the simulation results, we fabricate prototype helices for operation as slow-wave structures at THz frequencies, using metal nanomembranes. Single and intertwined double helices, as well as helices with one or two chiralities, are obtained by self-assembly of stressed metal bilayers. The nanomembrane stiffness and built-in stress control the diameter of the helices. The in-plane geometry of the nanomembrane determines the pitch, the chirality, and the formation of single vs intertwined double helices.