Observation of a variable sub-THz radiation driven by a low energy electron beam from a thermionic rf electron gun

Abstract

We report observations of an intense sub-THz radiation extracted from a ∼3 MeV electron beam with a flat transverse profile propagating between two parallel oversized copper gratings with side openings. Low-loss radiation outcoupling is accomplished using a horn antenna and a miniature permanent magnet separating sub-THz and electron beams. A tabletop experiment utilizes a radio frequency thermionic electron gun delivering a thousand momentum-chirped microbunches per macropulse and an alpha-magnet with a movable beam scraper producing sub-mm microbunches. The radiated energy of tens of micro-Joules per radio frequency macropulse is demonstrated. The frequency of the radiation peak was generated and tuned across two frequency ranges: (476-584) GHz with 7% instantaneous spectrum bandwidth, and (311-334) GHz with 38% instantaneous bandwidth. This prototype setup features a robust compact source of variable frequency, narrow bandwidth sub-THz pulses.