Theory of the cyclotron maser instability

The cyclotron maser instability has a two-fold importance; first, there is fundamental scientific interest in the physical processes involved in this instability; second, this mechanism is the basis for a new class of powerful millimeter and submillimeter wave generators (gyrotrons) which are finding application to r.f. heating of plasmas in controlled fusion research devices. In this paper, both the scientific aspects and the design procedures for devices based on the cyclotron maser instability are reviewed.