Method and apparatus for producing microwave radiation

A method of producing microwave radiation, comprising the steps of

• (a) forming a generally stable, high-beta relativistic-electron plasma magnetically confined in a magnetic mirror region of an enclosure,
• (b) inducing a convectively unstable wave in the confined plasma for producing a pulse of relatively intense microwave radiation at a frequency near a local electron gyrofrequency of the plasma,
• (c) withdrawing the relatively intense microwave radiation pulse from the enclosure through focusing means for concentrating the radiation pulse into a beam of focused radiation,
• (d) sequentially repeating steps (a), (b) and (c) to produce a beam of sequential pulses, and
• (e) directing the beam of sequential pulses toward a target including electronic circuit means, steps (a), (b) and (c) being selectively carried out for causing the beam of sequential pulses to be coupled into the electronic circuit means for developing substantial amounts of energy therein.

Apparatus for producing pulses of high power microwave radiation, comprising

• an enclosure having a magnetic field, at least one magnetic mirror region and a source of neutral gas to be ionized,
• means for developing a selected gas pressure within the enclosure,
• means for generating the magnetic field at a strength suitable for causing electron cyclotron heating,
• means for introducing high frequency microwave energy of a selected frequency and power level into the magnetic mirror region,
• the generating means being adapted for continuing electron cyclotron heating to form a generally stable, high-beta, relativistic-electron plasma in the enclosure, and
• means for introducing a convectively unstable wave in the plasma for producing a pulse of relatively intense microwave radiation at a frequency near a local electron gyrofrequency of the plasma.

Apparatus for producing a pulse of microwave radiation, comprising

• means for forming a generally stable, high-beta, relativistic-electron plasma magnetically confined in a magnetic mirror region of an enclosure,
• means for inducing a convectively unstable wave in the confined plasma for producing a pulse of relatively intense microwave radiation at a frequency near a local electron gyrofrequency of the plasma.
• means for withdrawing the relatively intense microwave pulse from the enclosure through focusing means for concentrating the pulse into a beam of focused radiation,
• control means for regulating operation of the other apparatus means in a sequentially repeating manner to produce a beam of sequential pulses, and
• means for directing the beam of sequential pulses toward a target including electron circuit means, the control means being adapted for regulating operation of the other apparatus means for causing the beam of sequential pulses to be coupled into the electronic circuit means for developing substantial amounts of energy therein.