Abstract:
The structures for confining or guiding high frequency electromagnetic radiation have surfaces facing the radiation constructed of high temperature superconducting materials, that is, materials having critical temperatures greater than approximately 35.degree. K. The use of high temperature superconductors removes the constraint of the relatively low energy gaps of conventional, low temperature superconductors which precluded their use at higher frequencies. The high temperature superconductors also provide larger thermal margins and more effective cooling. Devices which will benefit from the structures of the invention include microwave cavities, millimeter-wave/far infrared cavities, gyrotron cavities, mode converters, accelerators and free electron lasers, and waveguides.
Abstract:
A method and apparatus are disclosed for producing microwave radiation wherein a generally stable, high-beta, relativistic electron plasma is formed and magnetically confined in a magnetic mirror region of a suitable enclosure, a convectively unstable wave then being created in the confined plasma for producing a pulse of relatively intense microwave radiation at a frequency near a local electron gyrofrequency of the plasma, the plasma preferably being formed by simultaneous multiple-frequency electron cyclotron heating and upper off-resonant heating using microwave power at frequencies above the electron gyrofrequency of the plasma. The above steps or functions are preferably sequentially repeated with sequential pulses of microwave radiation being withdrawn from the enclosure, focused by quasi-optical means and directed toward a target including electronic circuitry, the method and apparatus of the invention being preferably adapted for causing the beam of sequential pulses to be coupled into the electronic circuitry for developing substantial amounts of energy therein.