RF Cavity Chain and Magnetic Circuit for a 10-MW, 1.3-GHz, Low-Voltage, Multi-Beam Klystron

The design of a future electron-positron collider, the International Linear Collider (ILC), relies upon the availability of a large number of efficient, reliable 10-MW, 1.3 GHz RF amplifiers. Existing prototype multi-beam klystrons (MBKs), which are anticipated for this application, operate at relatively high voltage (117 KV) and are physically too large for vertical mounting in the collider tunnel. Similar complications apply to the FNAL proton accelerator needed for Project X. A preliminary, low-voltage MBK design, which operates at 60 kV and is about half the height of the existing prototypes, has been created to meet the needs of both the ILC and Project X. This design involves the use of 24 separate beams arranged in four independent clusters, with electron guns and an RF circuit immersed in a common magnetic field. This project addresses the design of the RF cavity chain and magnetic circuit for this MBK. (Design of the electron guns and beam collector are to be supported under a parallel SBIR grant.) Commercial Applications and other Benefits as described by the awardee: The availability of a low-voltage, 10-MW, 1.3-GHz MBK would lower the overall cost of a future collider and create a multi-million dollar market for a new class of high-power microwave amplifiers. Other applications of high-power MBKs can be found in industrial processing, adding to the commercial potential of this device.