When most of us hear the word “microwave,” we probably think of the appliance in our kitchen that we use to pop popcorn and reheat leftovers. But did you know that there is an entire multibillion-dollar field of microwave electronics that uses the technology? In fact, you’ve probably benefited from microwaves in way more ways than simply getting a quick dinner on the table.
How It Works
All microwave electronics use microwave systems that are made of many electronic parts called circuits. These components are designed to manipulate electromagnetic phenomena into carrying out different microwave signal processing functions. These functions include generating, controlling, modulating, and amplifying signals. They’re also used in frequency conversion.
A Brief History
Microwave systems and circuits were heavy and bulky in the 1940s, with voluminous, hollow metallic pipes and tubes. These products are still in used today in certain high-power applications, but since the 1960s, planar transmission line circuits have been the leading technology. They’re cheap, lightweight, and most importantly, can be made very small. The 1960s also brought about a new way of manufacturing. Instead of making all the microwave components individually, it became more cost effective to mass-produce or “print” an entire circuit that looks like a lot like a flat chocolate chip.
Common Uses
Microwaves are used primarily for heating, communications, and remote sensing and countermeasures. They’re also used in energy weapons and the medical field, which we’ll look at in more depth later. One of the most well known applications for microwave technology is radar. Radars use transmitters to illuminate objects and receivers to detect its velocity and position. Microwaves also play a large role in radiometry, which is used in many of the high-tech security scanners we’ve probably all gone through at the airport.
Microwave Electronics in the Medical Field
Microwave technology has been incredibly helpful in developing new methods for cancer treatment. The technology is a main component in the medical linear accelerators commonly used in oncology. These accelerators offer a controllable and safe radiation source not previously used in the field. They are also easily powered off, which is beneficial both in terms of energy saving and for the good of the equipment.
