An Amplitude Modulated Beam Buncher

Bunched electron beam sources for RF linacs can employ photo-, thermionic, or FE cathodes and have DC or pulsed high voltage (HV) applied, or use an RF structure to extract and accelerate the emitted electrons. We present a technical approach that uses a gridded coaxial type of triode gun to generate the modulated beam (macro bunches in L-band) and follows by an X-band RF buncher to form the micro bunches in X-band. The gridded triode provides a wide range frequency modulation and the high harmonic buncher will enable an efficient bunching process to MeV level of beam energy. Then it can connect and inject the beam to the X-band 5MeV to 15MeV (>100mA in pulse current) linac as described in the solicitation. The work in Phase I is focused on the feasibility study via detailed beam and RF simulations. The modeling and simulation work will lead to an implementation plan to be carried out Phase II.