Generation and Application of High Power Microwaves

Abstract

A question often posed upon publication of a summer school proceedings is whether the contents are of lasting value, or are only an archive or diary of the gathering. This issue is exacerbated by the year's delay (or more) that is all too customary between the school itself and publication; and of course the attendees have had the contents in note form all along. Only occasionally, in this reviewer's experience, are the contents worth the purchase price of the book; and even less often is the book a useful reference for course work in a teaching context. It is thus gratifying to report that the present volume should be of lasting value, and should be a useful reference for students in high power microwave physics and related fields to have and to hold during their formative years.The editors, Professor Alan Cairns of the University of St Andrews, and Professor Alan Phelps of the University of Strathclyde, have assembled some 14 essays in the book on a range of topics on microwave source physics and the uses of high power microwaves for fusion plasma heating. Amongst the essays are several tutorials, including Alan Phelps' own 8 page introduction; Michael Petelin's elegant overview of a range of classical spontaneous and stimulated radiation processes for free electrons; Rodolfo Bonifacio's exposition on free electron waveguide lasers; James Eastwood's overview of computer modelling methods; Georges Faillon's review of klystrons; Alan Cairns's and Nat Fisch's lucid descriptions of the physical basis of plasma heating with intense microwaves; and Manfred Thumm's two thorough contributions on microwave mode converters and on applications.The other essays are less tutorial, but more topical, with expositions on new results on gyro-amplifiers by Monica Blank; on vacuum microelectronics issues for microwave power amplifiers by Morag Garven and Robert Parker; John Vomvoridis's theory of cyclotron resonance interactionsfor generation of high power microwaves using a rectilinear electron beam; and for generation of high power microwaves using a rectilinear electron beam; and Marco Brambilla's and C. Gormezano's descriptions of methods and systems for ion cyclotron, lower hybrid and electron cyclotron heating of tokamak plasmas.It would be difficult to imagine that a single author could assemble into a single volume the wealth and breadth of material presented here. Students and professionals in high power microwave physics should benefit markedly from a study of this volume. The editors deserve high marks for their efforts in assembling and editing this Proceedings.