RF Accelerator Technology for Very High Powers

辐射处理，特别是辐射增强食品保质期的技术，是电子加速器可能的重要应用。为了使其在经济上具有吸引力，必须开发一种最大能量为5 MeV、平均束流功率为500千瓦的电子加速器。低频射频直线加速器(小于300兆赫)都是非常有吸引力的应聘者。在这项工作中，我们建议建造这样一个加速器的100千伏模块，具有真实的束流负载和廉价的200兆赫。功率三极管功放，以测试这类机器的性能。提出的技术将允许大部分1米的腔体用常压气体(六氟化硫)绝缘，从而大大简化了此类加速器的设计和冷却。将开发的模块还将在真空中进行测试，以进行比较，并估计结构在真空中的发热情况。我们正在使用的模块化方法大大提高了加速器的容错性和总体可靠性。如果成功，高功率射频加速器的成本将大幅降低，这些加速器的功率水平将显著提高。

Radiation processing, particularly techniques for radiation enhanced shelf life of foods, are important possible applications of electron accelerators. In order for this to become economically attractive, an electron accelerator of 5 MeV maximum energy with an average beam power of 500 kW must be developed. Low frequency RF linacs (less than 300 Mhz.) are very attractive candidates for this application. In this work, we propose to build a 100 kV module of such an accelerator with realistic beam loading and an inexpensive 200 Mhz. power triode amplifier in order to test the capabilities this class of machine. Techniques are proposed which will allow the majority of the 1 meter cavities to be insulated with atmospheric pressure gas (Sulphur Hexafluoride), resulting in significant simplifications to the design and cooling of such accelerators. The module which will be developed will also be tested in vacuum for comparison, and to estimate the heating of the structure in vacuum. The modular approach which we are using significantly increases the fault tolerance and overall reliability of the accelerator. If successful, the costs of high power RF accelerators will be significantly reduced, and the power levels of these accelerators will be significantly increased.