Detecting radioactive materials using high-power, terahertz gyrotrons
Researchers at the Russian Academy of Science (RAS) have reported achieving unique advances in the capabilities of gyrotrons. In 1983, by employing pulsed magnets with fields up to 27 Tesla, they achieved gyrotron output power ∼100 kW in 80 ms pulses at several fixed frequencies in the range 375-650 GHz; at 500 GHz the gyrotron efficiency was 8% [1]. More recently, in 2008, using a pulsed magnet with fields up to 40 Tesla, they achieved gyrotron operation at 1.01 THz [2]. At the University of Maryland, we have begun a theory and experimental program aimed at enhancing these capabilities and adapting them to important applications, for example in such areas as shipping container security.