 High power radio-frequency (R.F.) engineering is a key technology for:-
- Particle accelerators used to explore the fundamental forces of the universe,
- Particle accelerators used to probe nuclear structure,
- Synchrotron Light Sources for imaging biological and atomic structures,
- Plasma Fusion Research,
- Radio and television broadcasting,
- Civilian and military radar,
- Satellite communications,
- Medical accelerators for cancer therapy,
- Industrial accelerators for surface modification,
- Industrial R.F. processing.
 Radio Frequency (RF) is a broad term that is used to encompass electromagnetic frequencies between about 10 MHz to 200 GHz. High power implies the transmitting end of radars and communication systems rather that the receiving end.
Terrestrial broadcasting requires power levels of the order of hundreds of kilowatts at frequencies up to 1 GHz. ECRH fusion plasma heating requires power levels of many Mega-Watts at frequencies over 100 GHz. Particle accelerators require multi MW pulses at about 1 GHz. Industrial processing applications might use tens or hundreds of kW at 915 MHz. Satellite downlinks might use just 200W at 10 – 30 GHz.
 High Power RF for applications as described above is typically produced by specialist vacuum tubes such as Klystrons, Magnetrons, Travelling Wave Tubes, Inductive Output Tubes, Gyrotrons and Crossed-Field Amplifiers.
High power RF should be distinguished from low level RF which is predominantly signal processing and uses solid state components.
UK industry, government research labs, universities and DSTL collectively employ several hundred high power RF engineers and many thousands of low power RF engineers. Currently there is a considerable shortage of high power RF engineers and if this shortage is not remedied, flagship science projects may flounder and our capability for defence technology development may be diminished.
High power RF engineers are employed in the UK to develop the tubes that generate high power RF, to develop accelerator structures, to develop specialised antennae, to develop waveguide components for high power systems such as cavities such as circulators, filters, couplers and tuners and to specify design and test complete systems.
In order to become a high power RF engineer one typically needs to start out with a good degree in Physics or Electronic Engineering. Specific training in high Power RF engineering is very limited. Many RF engineers got started by undertaking a PhD in a relevant area or learnt the job over an extended period within industry.
 There is now a new course in the UK that fills this important gap in the provision of education and training for high power RF engineering. It is run jointly by the Universities of Lancaster and Strathclyde. The syllabus includes advanced electromagnetic theory, relativistic electrodynamics, numerical methods and PIC codes, solid state and plasma physics, vacuum techniques and phenomena and electron emission. Both passive and active devices and their characterisation are covered, including network and spectrum analysis, waveguides and components, windows, IOTs, TWTs, Magnetrons, Klystrons and Gyrotrons. Classes cover practical issues such as magnets, power supplies, vacuum chambers, EMC, safety issues, procurement, assembly, tuning and commissioning, acceptance and training and overall system configurations for important applications such as particle accelerators, RaDAR, communications and plasma heating.
For detailed course content, structure and timetable visit
www.engineering.lancs.ac.uk/postgraduate/courses.asp
Related Links:
Aeronautical Engineering
Biomedical Engineering
Civil and Structural Engineering
Chemical Engineering
Electrical and Electronic Engineering
Engineering Courses
Manufacturing Engineering
Marine Engineering
|
|
