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

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