Ultra-High Gradient, Compact S-Band Accelerating Structure for Laboratory and Industrial Applications

There is a growing demand from the industrial and research communities for high gradient, compact RF accelerating structures. State-of-the-art, 3-m long, S-band SLAC-type structures have an operating gradient of about 20 MV/m. Although much higher operating gradients (up to 70 MV/m) have been achieved at shorter wavelengths, such as X-band or W-band, RF power sources are not readily available at these higher frequency bands. Therefore, there is a need for higher gradient structures that operate at the S-band frequency, where power sources are abundant. The high gradient program for the Next Linear Collider (NLC) has developed a number of RF design solutions, such as improved couplers, to enhance RF structure performance at high gradient. This project will develop a short, standing wave S-band structure that uses scaled NLC coupler designs. Such a structure will achieve a 50 MV/m operating gradient at 2856 MHz, over 2 times the present state of the art. Commercial Applications and other Benefits as described by the awardee The proposed structure would address the needs of real-estate-limited accelerator facilities, such as small hospitals and universities, and would serve as a drop-in replacement for SLAC linacs at existing research facilities