Patent ID: 6373194
Filing Date: 2002-04-16
Classification: H01J

Abstract:
An optical magnetron, comprising:an anode and a cathode separated by an anode-cathode space; electrical contacts for applying a dc voltage between the anode and the cathode and establishing an electric field across the anode-cathode space; at least one magnet arranged to provide a dc magnetic field within the anode-cathode space generally normal to the electric field; and a plurality of resonant cavities each having an opening along a surface of the anode which defines the anode-cathode space, whereby electrons emitted from the cathode are influenced by the electric and magnetic fields to follow a path through the anode-cathode space and pass in close proximity to the openings of the resonant cavities to create a resonant field in the resonant cavities; wherein the resonant cavities are each designed to resonate at a frequency having a wavelength &lgr; of approximately 10 microns or less.