Energy transmission by relativistic electron beams

The feasibility of energy transfer over long distances by high-energy electron beams propagating inside an autonomous, flexible vacuum ion duct, is examined. Since the electrons do not lose energy in the ion duct, itself, the energy transfer efficiency is determined by the efficiencies of a linear resonance electron accelerator at the energy source and of an accelerator-recovery system at the delivery site. Unfortunately, existing linear resonance accelerators do not have a sufficiently high efficiency. Thus, ways of raising the efficiency from the present level of 60–70% to the required ≥90% are discussed. If a high efficiency is achieved in the resonance electron accelerator, then it is possible to design high-power, efficient (≥95%) systems for transfer of energy over long distances, with efficiencies that are independent of the transmission distance or the energy flux.