A Technique for Time-Resolved Imaging of Millimeter Waves Based on Visible Continuum Radiation from a Cs-Xe DC Discharge — Fundamentals and Applications

Abstract

The chapter presents a review of a highly sensitive technique for time-resolved imaging and measurement of the 2D intensity profiles of millimeter waves (MMW) based on the use of visible continuum radiation (VCR) from the positive column (PC) of a medium pressure Cs-Xe DC discharge (VCRD technique). The review focuses on the operating principles, fundamentals, and applications of this new technique. The design of a discharge tube and an experimental setup which were used to create a wide homogeneous PC plasma slab are described. The MMW effects on the plasma slab are studied. The mechanism of microwave-induced variations in the VCR intensity and the causes of violation of the local relation between the visible continuum emissivity and the MMW intensity are discussed. The main characteristics, e.g., spatial and temporal resolution, and sensitivity of the VCRD technique have been evaluated. Experiments on imaging of the field patterns of horn antennas and quasioptical beams demonstrated that the VCRD technique can be used for a good-quality imaging of the MMW beams in the entire MMwavelength band. The VCRD technique was applied for imaging of output field patterns of the MMW electron tubes and determination of some of their characteristics, as well as for active real-time imaging and nondestructive testing using MM waves.