Theory of the Rebatron—a Relativistic Electron Bunching Accelerator for Use in Megavolt Electronics

Abstract

Highly bunched electron beams in the 1 to 3 million electron volt range, having a sharply peaked velocity spectrum, represent a powerful attack on the submillimeter wave (100 to 3000 kmc/sec) generation problem. In this paper the theory of a rebatron for producing a high‐energy beam, wherein both the current wave form and the velocity distribution function approach delta functions, is presented. Computations indicate that the emergent 1.5‐Mev beam has an appreciable harmonic content up to harmonics as high as the 1000th and has a velocity spread of 0.07% for the electrons of interest. Pulsed beam powers of the order of 100 000 w should be possible using a 3 kmc/sec rebatron.