Optical magnetron for high efficiency production of optical radiation, and 1/2amp;lgr; induced pi-mode operation

摘要

An optical magnetron is provided which includes a cylindrical cathode and an annular-shaped anode coaxially aligned with the cathode. The anode may include a plurality of wedges arranged side by side to form a hollow-shaped cylinder having the anode-cathode space located therein, and each of the wedges includes a recess which defines at least in part a resonant cavity having an opening exposed to the anode-cathode space. The anode alternatively may include a plurality of washer-shaped layers stacked atop each other. Each of the layers includes a plurality of recesses along an inner diameter which are aligned with recesses of the other layers to define a plurality of resonant cavities along an axis of the cylinder each having an opening to the anode-cathode space.