ABSTRACT
There is a strong, symbiotic relationship between a developing technology and its applications. New technologies, or dramatic increases in the performance of an existing technology, can generate applications previously either unrealizable or impractical. Conversely, the demands posed by an existing application can spur the development of a new technological capability. Examples of both types can be found in the evolution of high power microwaves (HPM). The high power and energy output made possible by HPM research have created a technology-driven interest in HPM directed energy weapons. On the other hand, the requirements for electron cyclotron resonance heating of fusion plasmas have resulted in an application-driven program to develop high-frequency, high-average-power microwave sources. In this chapter, we will address the present state of such applications.
