Frequency transformer: switched magnetized plasma medium

Summary form only given. The frequency of a source wave is changed by a time-varying electromagnetic medium. A magnetoplasma is a suitable electromagnetic medium for frequency transformation since its dielectric constant can be changed by orders of magnitude by changing the plasma density or the direction and strength of the static magnetic field. Two such effects were recently described: (1) Frequency upshifting with power intensification of a whistler wave by a collapsing plasma medium. (2) Conversion of a whistler wave into a controllable helical wiggler magnetic field. Frequency transformation of a signal is of great significance in high frequency electrical engineering. It is cost effective to construct high frequency generators in certain frequency bands and very difficult and expensive to do the same in certain other frequency bands. A frequency transformer is thus a potentially useful device. Moreover, by controlling the static magnetic field parameters and the level of ionization, the frequency shift ratio can be changed and the frequency transformer becomes tunable.