Form 9.B Project Summary

Chron:

970591

Proposal Number:

23.03-8680

Project Title:

Efficient Backward Wave Oscillators

for Millimeter and Submillimeter Wave

Applications

Technical Abstract (Limit 200 words)

This research will result in development of

advanced millimeter and submillimeter wave

Backward Wave Oscillators (BWOs). Successful

development will result in devices requiring

significantly less input power, require less cooling,

have reduced weight, and have improved mode

purity. Calabazas Creek Research, Inc. is

proposing to develop the first BWOs with a

depressed collector, spent-beam, energy recovery

system that will significantly reduce the prime

power requirement and allow air cooling instead of

water cooling. An additional goal will be to develop

mode converters between the slow wave structure

and the overmoded output to allow for single mode

operation. Finally, advanced permanent magnet

technology will be applied to reduce magnet and

system weight.

BWO sources are presently used for ground based

atmospheric sensing of trace chemicals, testing of

solid state sensors, and basic spectroscopy

research. This innovatve development will allow

these devices to be used for airbourne or space

atmospheric sensing missions, as well as reduce the

cost and complexity of BWO sources, making their

unique tunability and output power capability more

accessible to both private and government

laboratories.

Potential Commercial Applications (Limit 200 words)

The proposed program will result in the

development of efficient, lighter-weight, millimeter

and submillimeter BWOs applicable to the following

commercial applications:

* Laboratory and remote spectroscopy, material

analysis, aquametry, and medical research,

* Millimeter and submillimeter wave sources

available for airbourne and space missions for

molecular line astronomy and atmospheric

environmental sensing,

* Heterodyne sources for the new, proposed, large

array, radiotelescope system.

Name and Address of Principal Investigator (Name,

Organization Name, Mail Address, City/State/Zip)

R. Lawrence Ives

Calabazas Creek Research, Inc.

20937 Comer Drive

Saratoga , CA 95070-3753

Name and Address of Offeror (Firm Name, Mail Address,

City/State/Zip)

R. Lawrence Ives

Calabazas Creek Research, Inc.

20937 Comer Drive

Saratoga , CA 95070-3753