Advances in diffraction electronics

A review of diffraction electronics theory and devices for millimeter and submillimeter wavelength applications. Pulsed, CW, and multistage diffraction radiation oscillators (DRO) for mm and sub-mm operation are developed and are being used in solid state research, radar, thermonuclear synthesis, broadband communications. The CW DRO designs utilize varied accelerating voltage and mirror spacing for frequency retuning, and require 1/3 to 1/4 the voltage change used in BWTs. They use 15 kg permanent magnets, and produce 2.4 W output at 77.435 GHz. The multistage DROs use semitransparent gratings and electrodynamically coupled mirrors. The linear theory and nonlinear empirical theory (using nonlinear integral equations) of DROs are developed, and earlier diffraction electronics research (flickering dipole, 'cold' DROs, dielectric waveguide, mirrors and reflection gratings, coupling of electron beam and microwave field) is reviewed.