Quasi-optical harmonic gyrotron and gyroklystron

This patent discloses a method and apparatus for suppressing lower order cyclotron harmonics in order to permit resonance within a quasi-optical gyrotron/gyroklystron configuration of a desired high order harmonic. In the gyrotron/gyroklystron configuration at least one open resonator defined by at least two mirrors is positioned downstream from an electron beam source for receiving therethrough the beam of electrons and for exchanging energy therewith. This method includes the steps for choosing a mirror radius size large enough relative to the spot size of a desired radiation cyclotron harmonic so that the harmonic oscillates within the at least one resonator, but small enough so that the spot size for the next lower cyclotron harmonic is larger than the mirror so that harmonic does not oscillate due to diffraction losses. This method further includes the step of generating an electron beam bias the electron beam source with a beam current which is greater than or equal to the starting current for the desired nth cyclotron harmonic, but less than the starting current for the nth cyclotron harmonic.