Development of Multiple Beam Guns For High Power RF Applications

159 Development of Multiple Beam Guns For High Power RF Applications--Calabazas Creek Research, 20937 Comer Drive, Saratoga, CA 95070-3753; (408) 741-8680 Dr. R. Lawrence Ives, Principal Investigator Dr. R. Lawrence Ives, Business Official DOE Grant No. DE-FG03-97ER82341 Amount: $75,000 The next generation of high energy accelerators will require RF sources producing output power levels in the range of 50 - 150 MW at frequencies of 1.0 GHz and higher. Typical klystrons will require beam voltages in the range of 400 - 600 kV with beam currents on the order of 500 A, assuming operating efficiencies around 50%. The costs of these systems can be dramatically lowered using multiple beams to lower the voltage, shorten the tube, and possibly eliminate the need for solenoid focusing by facilitating periodic permanent magnet focusing. Unfortunately, design tools and methodologies have not been developed for designing multiple beam electron guns. This project will focus on developing tools and procedures for the design of high quality, robust, multiple beam guns using a combination of 2D and 3D computational tools. A proprietary technique for creating high convergent guns with individual beamlet focusing will be employed to avoid beam disruption from neighboring beams and to guide the beams through the RF circuit. If the Phase I project is successful, a prototype electron gun will be designed and built in the Phase II project for an X-Band source producing 100 MW of pulsed, RF power. The multiple beam gun will be tested in a beam analyzer, and the results will be compared to computer simulations. Commercial Applications and Other Benefits as described by the awardee: This project will develop the technology for designing and building multiple beam electron guns applicable to RF sources for numerous applications, from high power accelerator to broadband tubes for radar, electronic countermeasures, industrial heating, and communications. It will dramatically expand the performance characteristics of klystrons and result in significantly lower cost for high power RF systems.