Tools for Studying Multipactor in Dielectric Waveguide Structures

76228-Recent experiments have shown unexpected power absorption in dielectric waveguide structures, used in High Energy Physics research. This absorbed (missing) power is thought to be related to a process called multipactor, where electrons strike the walls of the structure multiple times, generating light energy. However, no presently available computer tools are capable of simulating multipactor in enough detail to fully understand the power loss. This project will improve existing computer codes to develop a new, state-of-the-art modeling tool for studying multipactor and solving the problem of power loss in dielectric structures. Phase I will implement an interface from a well-known secondary electron emission package to a state-of-the-art electromagnetics code, develop boundary and material models in the electromagnetics code to better suit dielectric structures, and validate all of these models against recent experiments. Commercial Applications and Other Benefits as described by the awardee: The modeling tool should be uniquely capable of studying multipactor in detail and, therefore, should be of interest to researchers studying high radio frequency power both at national labs and in private industry.