High efficiency high power microwave source

摘要

An electron gun emits a steady stream of electrons. The electrons pass to a modulating cavity which accelerates some of the electrons and decelerates other electrons in a particular timed relationship so that the electrons become periodically bunched. The bunched electrons are then accelerated in an accelerator to a constant speed such as the speed of light to maintain the bunching of the electrons and to substantially increase the energy of the electrons. The kinetic energy in the bunches of electrons is then converted to microwave energy. The conversion may occur in one output cavity or in a series of output cavities. Apparatus such as described above may be connected in parallel to further increase the output microwave energy.