IRREGULAR QUASI-OPTICAL SYSTEMS OF MILLIMETER WAVES ELECTRONICS

The basic types and research results of irregular quasi-optical systems, applied in electronics and millimeter-wave technology, are presented in the review. The general property of such systems is the presence of inhomogeneities, on which the transformation of surface waves of electron beams (or dielectric waveguides) into bulk waves, exciting the specified type of quasi-optical device (open resonator or waveguide, periodic or dielectric structure and others), occurs. We compared the levels of development for relativistic and non-relativistic electro-vacuum devices. The applicability of construction of low-voltage amplifiers and oscillators of millimeter range, including the planar technology uses for their microminiaturization, is shown. Based on the review we have built the scheme of irregular quasi-optical systems classification and evaluated the most advanced directions for further researches.