An improved waveguide window (10) for use in high power waveguide applications. The window (10) preferably includes a thin sheet (12) of dielectric material having a first planar face (14), a second (16) face, and a support structure (18) attached to the first face (14) to provide mechanical support for the sheet (12). The support structure (18) preferably includes a plurality of parallel conductive support bars (20), each bar having an inner portion (22) attached to the first face (14) and an outer portion (24) extending away from the sheet (12), the outer portion (24) being tapered to minimize wave reflection. At least one bar (20) also has a channel (28) bored therethrough to allow a coolant to flow through the bar (20) to remove heat generated within the dielectric sheet (12). Together, the sheet (12) and the support structure (18) form a waveguide window (10) which may be used to environmentally separate one waveguide section (32) from another (34). The waveguide window (10) preserves the particular environments of each section (32, 34) while allowing electromagnetic waves to propagate from one section (32) to the other (34).
A window material, which has a high thermal conductivity material layer having a thermal conductivity of at least 10 W/cm.multidot.K and which has a cooling medium flow path on or in the high thermal conductivity material layer, has a high heat-dissipating property and a high transmittance.
A system for separating constituents from a base material using RF energy which is coupled to a reaction chamber by way of a windowless transmission line. By eliminating the need for a window, traditional limitations placed on the maximum power delivered to the resonating cavity are eliminated. Thus, the only practical limitation on the RF energy which can be delivered to a resonating cavity are the ability of RF energy source to produce that energy and the ability of the resonating cavity to manage that energy.