Diffraction Radiation Phenomena: Physical Analysis and Applications

The chapter is devoted to the problems of analysis and applied usage of the diffraction radiation phenomena, which are exploited in antennas and generators for millimeter and submillimeter waves. The diffraction radiation occurs when surface waves of open waveguides or eigenfields of charged-particle beams are transformed by periodic gratings into radiated fields. Main properties of the diffraction radiation phenomena have been studied using the given-current approximation and rigorous methods taking into account actual size of devices exploiting the phenomena. The algorithm of experimental synthesis of planar diffraction antennas with record-breaking low side lobes level has been developed and applied to design a real-world device.