IREB converter to AC pulses

A device for converting the energy of an intense relativistic electron beam having a current between 1 kiloamp and 1 megaamp into high power AC electrical pulses comprising:

• a longitudinally-running drift tube with a first and second ends;
• means for generating an intense relativistic electron beam (IREB) and injecting said IREB to propagate along a path in said drift tube from said first end thereof;
• means for modulating said IREB with at least one frequency to obtain longitudinally spaced bunches of electrons in said drift tube in accordance therewith;
• coaxial means including an outer conductor and a center conductor with an end of said center conductor disposed across the second end of said drift tube in the path of said IREB;
• and
• a gap disposed between the second end of said drift tube and the end of said center conductor;
• wherein said coaxial means in combination with said gap acts to convert the kinetic energy of the electron bunches in said drift tube into electrical energy for propagation along said coaxial means.