A quasi-optical electron cyclotron maser
Abstract
An electron cyclotron maser oscillator configuration is presented which uses an open resonator cavity. The quasi-optical cyclotron maser is noted to be capable of generating coherent radiation in the millimeter to submillimeter regime at powers in the MW range with efficiencies over 50%. An open resonator contains a beam of gyrating electrons in and around a magnetic field directed transverse to the axis of the open resonator, which is composed of two mirrors. Electron beam energies of 10-100 keV minimum are required, and a multimode output is possible, as is a large Q from interception of a large flux from the fundamental mode. A linear analysis is presented in terms of the steady-state theory applied to the energy loss of the electron beam as it traverses the wave fields in the open resonator. The nonlinear efficiency is determined from nonlinear particle dynamics. Numerical results are developed for several design configurations.
- Publication:
-
Lasers 1980; Proceedings of the International Conference
- Pub Date:
- 1981
- Bibcode:
- 1981lase.conf...44S
- Keywords:
-
- Cavity Resonators;
- Cyclotron Radiation;
- Electron Radiation;
- Energy Conversion Efficiency;
- Maser Outputs;
- Coherent Radiation;
- Electron Beams;
- Energy Dissipation;
- Millimeter Waves;
- Submillimeter Waves;
- Lasers and Masers