(electronics) A device that detects motion of a system by measuring the phase distortion that occurs when a vibrating tuning fork is moved. A type of microwave tube in which microwave amplification or generation results from cyclotron-resonance coupling between microwave fields and an electron beam in vacuum. Also known as cyclotron-resonance maser.
Gyrotron
| Sci-Tech Dictionary: gyrotron |
(′jī·rə′trän)
| 5min Related Video: Gyrotron |
| Sci-Tech Encyclopedia: Gyrotron |
One of a family of microwave generators, also called cyclotron resonance masers, in which cyclotron resonance coupling between microwave fields and an electron beam in vacuum is the basis of operation. This type of coupling has the advantage that both the electron beam and the associated microwave structures can have dimensions which are large compared with a wavelength. Thus, cyclotron resonance masers are potentially greatly superior to conventional microwavetubes with respect to power capability at short wavelengths.
The development of these power sources is particularly significant for magnetically confinedplasma fusion experiments. Microwave heating is considered an attractive method of supplying the energy needed to bring a reactor to ignition temperature, and gyrotrons provide a potential means of producing sufficient microwave power at the very short wavelength required. Gyrotrons also have potential application in millimeter-wave radar and communications systems. See also Microwave tube;
| Wikipedia: Gyrotron |
Gyrotrons are high powered vacuum tubes which emit millimeter-wave beams by bunching electrons with cyclotron motion in a strong magnetic field. Output frequencies range from about 20 to 250 GHz, covering wavelengths from microwave to the edge of the terahertz gap. Typical output powers range from tens of kilowatts to 1-2 megawatts. Gyrotrons can be designed for pulsed or continuous operation.
Contents |
Principle of operation
The gyrotron is a type of free electron maser (microwave amplification by stimulated emission of radiation). It has high power at millimeter wavelengths because its dimensions can be much larger than the wavelength, unlike conventional vacuum tubes, and it is not dependent on material properties, as are conventional masers. The bunching depends on a relativistic effect called the Cyclotron Resonance Maser instability. The electron speed in a gyrotron is slightly relativistic (comparable to but not close to the speed of light). This contrasts to the free electron laser (and xaser) that work on different principles and which electrons are highly relativistic.
Applications
Gyrotrons are used for many industrial and high technology heating applications. For example, gyrotrons are used in nuclear fusion research experiments to heat plasmas, and also in manufacturing industry as a rapid heating tool in processing glass, composites, and ceramics, as well as for annealing (solar and semiconductors). Additionally, years of testing by the U.S. military has led to the development of a weapon system intended for non-lethal crowd control called the Active Denial System, which delivers a sensation of intense heat to its target using a directional beam of energy.
Manufacturers
Gyrotron makers include Communications & Power Industries (USA), Gycom (Russia), Thales Group (EU), and Toshiba (Japan). System developers include Gyrotron Technology, Inc
See also
This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)
Learn More
 | gyroklystron (electronics) |
| Submillimeter-wave technology (electromagnetic radiation) |
| Electron tube (physical electronics) |
Post a question - any question - to the WikiAnswers community:
Copyrights:
 |
 | Sci-Tech Dictionary. McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific and Technical Terms. Copyright © 2003, 1994, 1989, 1984, 1978, 1976, 1974 by McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Read more |
|
| Sci-Tech Encyclopedia. McGraw-Hill Encyclopedia of Science and Technology. Copyright © 2005 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Read more |
 |
| Wikipedia. This article is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Gyrotron". Read more |
ADVERTISEMENT
Mentioned in
- gyroklystron (electronics)
- Submillimeter-wave technology (electromagnetic radiation)
- Electron tube (physical electronics)
- Microwave
