A Reliable, Compact, and Inexpensive Klystron for the International Linear Collider

78008S The proposed International Linear Collider (ILC), a tool for future high energy physics research, places unprecedented demands on the high-power radio frequency (RF) system used to drive the accelerator structures. Even small improvements in system cost, power efficiency, or reliability could lead to dramatic cost savings over the life of such a collider facility. This project will design an inexpensive, compact, low-voltage RF tube, with adequate power for driving a single ILC 1meter-long structure. The device should provide an operating voltage of 36 kV, an output power of 800 kW, and efficiencies greater than 65 percent. In Phase I, an analysis and conceptual design of the tube will be conducted. The tube design will be optimized with electrostatic simulations for the gun region and one-dimensional models of the cavity section. Design geometry will be simulated with a 2¿-dimension electromagnetic particle-in-cell code, and analyzed for stability. The design will emphasize low production cost, small physical size, and easy maintenance/interchange. Commercial Applications and Other Benefits as described by the awardee: The proposed RF tube should be suitable for powering many types of superconducting accelerator structures, including the International Linear Collider, light sources such as TESLA X-FEL, the Fermilab Proton Driver, and energy recovery linacs.