Optical magnetron generator

An optical magnetron generator, comprising:

• a cylindrical collector having a radius rc;
• an annular-shaped anode having a radius ra and coaxially aligned with the collector to define an anode-collector space having a width wa=ra−rc;
• a pair of output terminals operatively coupled to the anode and the collector to provide an electrical power output based on an electric field generated across the anode-collector space;
• at least one magnet arranged to provide a dc magnetic field within the anode-collector space generally normal to the electric field;
• a plurality of resonant cavities each having an opening along a surface of the anode which defines the anode-collector space;
• an input for receiving electromagnetic radiation from an external source and operatively configured to introduce the optical radiation into the anode-cathode space to establish a resonant electromagnetic field within the resonant cavities;
• and
• a cathode for introducing electrons into the anode-collector space in proximity to the resonant electromagnetic field,
• wherein the electrons introduced by the cathode are influenced by the resonant electromagnetic field and the magnetic field to accelerate along a path through the anode-collector space which curves towards the collector.