High-power RF compressor

Rapid compression of resonant RF fields in a coaxial cavity with a moving, magnetically confined plasma ring is discussed. The ring velocity can be a high, compression to high energy density and high power can be achieved before significant resistive loss or vaporization of the cavity walls occurs. An example is given of compressing 10(5) J of lambda = 15 cm stored energy to 2 x 10(6) J of lambda = 1.0 cm RF energy with the energy released in 3 nsec for a maximum power of 6 x 10(14) W. It is suggested that a proof of principle plasma ring accelerator experiment can provide a test by compressing 125 joules of 14 cm RF to 1.25 kJ of 1.4 cm radiation, released in 5 nsec for a peak power of 2.5 x 10(11) W.