Development of Electrodynamic Components for Microwave Electronic Devices Using the Technology of 3D Photopolymer Printing with Chemical Surface Metallization

We study the possibility of using the technology of 3D photopolymer printing with subsequent metallization of working surfaces for developing electrodynamic components of microwave devices. The technology applicability is considered by examples of mockups of a profiled helical waveguide for a microwave undulator of a Compton free-electron laser and a periodic slow-wave system of a backward-wave oscillator with a ribbon electron beam. The results of “cold” measurements of the parameters of these electrodynamic systems are presented and good agreement with the simulation results is obtained, which confirms the prospects of using additive technologies for developing components of the vacuum microwave electronic devices.