Magnetron Technology

Why in the News?

• The Union government has extended its support to the indigenous development of high-powered magnetron technology which is mainly used for treating cancer

About 

• A Magnetron is a type of vacuum tube device which is a compact and low-cost source of microwave power
• It works on the principle of a crossed-field device which uses the motion of electrons in perpendicular electromagnetic fields to generate microwave radiation 
• These radiations are used for generating RF power sources in Linear Accelerator for medical purposes along with other applications
• This technology has been developed by CSIR-CEERI and has been transferred to Panacea for mass production and usage in radiation therapies for cancer
• This is a landmark initiative to facilitate the oncologists to treat 2 mm diameter brain tumours with precision radiation and with very few side effects
• It enables a cost-effective treatment of micro and major tumours
• The government will put efforts into further reducing the cost of the particle accelerator Siddharth II to make cancer treatment affordable to the common people