Photoconductive Silicon Carbide Switched Kicker Modulators

In order to satisfy the demanding requirements of the International Linear Collider, this project will demonstrate the feasibility of producing fast kicker systems that employ Photoconductive Silicon Carbide switches and Nano-Ceramic Transmission Lines. The fast, high voltage, high current modulators to drive the kicker systems not only will be compact, robust, and efficient, but also will reliably generate reproducible pulses with precise specifications at high repetition rates and modest duty cycles for long lifetimes. The approach will leverage previous research in nano-ceramic transmission lines, photoconductive silicon carbide switches, and modulator designs. In Phase I: (1) new custom nano-ceramic transmission line pulse generators and photoconductive silicon carbide switches will be incorporated into the modulators; (2) models and experiments will be employed to validate substantially improved system performance; (3) prototype transmission lines and switches will be developed and integrated into scaled kicker systems; (4) performance will be validated via models and experiments; and (5) conceptual designs will be developed, potential issues will be evaluated, and a Phase II plan will be established. Commercial Applications and other Benefits as described by the awardee: The new modulators not only would impact the world community of accelerator enthusiasts, but also would be applicable to other related scientific sectors, specifically, the High Power Microwave (HPM) and electron beam accelerator communities. The proposed modulators also may be applicable as upgrades to existing linear accelerators at Los Alamos, Brookhaven, Argonne, Berkeley, etc. Military applications include directed energy weapons, high power microwaves, high power lasers, electromagnetic guns and launchers, and electron beam accelerators. The commercial sector could benefit from advances in radar, X-Ray sources, etc.