Multiplier Power Supply

70617S02-II The Next Generation Linear Collider (NLC) requires significant numbers of klystrons and pulsed power supplies for operation. However, the baseline klystron design requires pulsing at 500 kV, which leads to significant losses in the pulsed power supplies, losses that would represent $10 million or more in annual electricity costs during the NLC life. A gridded sheetbeam klystron alternative to the baseline klystron, which eliminates the 500 kV pulsing and associated power losses, is now under development. This design separates the power systems and klystrons through a long, specialized cable ¿ reducing the costs of constructing and operating the NLC. To implement this sheet beam klystron design, a complex klystron power system will be needed, capable of providing 500 kV cathode power and very fast, highly accurate grid pulses over a long, specialized cable. This project will develop the required high voltage power supplies, grid pulser, and other electronics needed to drive the sheet beam klystron over a long cable. Phase I designed the complete power supply, suitable for construction, testing, and integration into a full sheet beam klystron demonstration in Phase II. Phase II will coordinate the requirements and design of the power electronics with a high voltage cable design and a gridded sheet beam klystron (both under separate development) to ensure that the entire system design is consistent across all three subsystems. Then, each element of the electronics, including the multiplier power supply, grid pulser, and controls will be built and tested to ensure they meet specifications. Commercial Applications and Other Benefits as described by awardee: The primary benefit would be a large reduction in the operational costs of the Next Generation Linear Collider. Beyond the NLC, there are thousands of industrial and medical accelerators that could receive the same types of benefits from adoption of the sheetbeam klystron.