Research on Thermal Analysis and Optimization Methods for a 0.22-Terahertz Traveling Wave Tube

Since the thermal reliability issues of terahertz traveling wave tubes (THz TWTs) severely limit their power capacity, we propose a thermal analysis and optimization process for THz TWTs in this paper. The measurement results from the accessible test points exhibited good consistency with those of the thermal analysis. Based on the analysis of the heat generation mechanisms of each component of the THz TWT, two novel thermal conduction structures were introduced that decreased the operating temperature of the output window from 81 °C to 34 °C and decreased the operating temperature of the slow wave structure (SWS) from 103 °C to 56 °C. According to the simulation results for the maximum allowable internal power dissipation under the optimized structure, these novel optimization strategies theoretically double the power capacity of the SWS. This work demonstrates an experimentally validated full-tube thermal model and establishes a transferable optimization principle based on identifying and eliminating thermal bottlenecks through a strategic heat conduction path design. This study provides an effective approach for improving the thermal reliability and power capacity of THz TWTs, providing technical support for the engineering application of high-power THz TWTs.