Joining of ceramic tubes using a high-power 83-GHz millimeter-wave beam

Summary form only given. The high power beams that can be generated by CW gyrotrons represent a promising energy source for high-temperature processing of materials. An experimental facility based on an 83-GHz, 15 kW CW industrial gyrotron has been set up at the Naval Research Laboratory to investigate novel mm-wave-beam-based approaches to processing ceramic materials including sintering, coating, and joining applications. Current experimental and theoretical studies are investigating the formation of strong bonds between ceramics and between ceramics and metals using controlled, selective heating of the joint area. In this paper, the results of current joining experiments were described. In particular, the results from the joining of ceramic tubes for a dielectric-loaded accelerator was presented. Additionally, novel methods for temperature sensing as well as monitoring of the ongoing process was given.