High-Power 11.4 GHz Microwave Components for Active Bragg Pulse Compressor

50636-98-I High-Power 11.4 GHz Microwave Components for Active Bragg Pulse Compressor--Omega-P, Inc., 202008 Yale Station, New Haven, CT 06520-2008; (203) 458-1144 Dr. Oleg A. Nezhevenko, Principal Investigator Mr. George P. Trahan, Business Official DOE Grant No. DE-FG02-98ER82630 Amount: $75,000 The high peak pulsed rf power required for a high-gradient electron-positron collider must be produced by compression of the rf pulse obtained from the rf source, such as klystron or magnicon. An active pulse compressor, using oversized waveguides and electrically-switchable Bragg reflectors, is already being developed. Components for matching this compressor to the rf source and the accelerator are required. In Phase I, design and preliminary tests will be carried out on high-power 11.4 GHz components at low power (~100kW). During Phase II, high power tests to produce compressed output pulses of 100 MW and above are to be carried out, using the 11.4 GHz Omega-P/NRL magnicon. Components are required to provide a good match between the rf source and the compressor, and between the compressor and the accelerator module. These components include mode converters, oversized low-loss waveguides, and a quasi-optical 3dB bi-directional coupler. Design, fabrication and tests of these components will be carried out for incorporation with the Active Bragg Compressor now under development. Commercial Applications and Other Benefits as described by the awardee: As R&D on high-gradient TeV-range colliders advances, there should be demand for high power rf sources for laboratory tests of accelerating structures and associated high-power components. Availability of an efficient high compression ratio pulse compressor can increase the available peak power levels available for collider applications, and/or can provide flexibility in obtaining long life-time, high average power from the rf source._