Triaxial Klystron for Efficient, Long-Pulse, High-Power Microwave Generation
Abstract
The Triaxial Klystron has intrinsic advantages over alternative klystron configurations. It consists of a thin annular electron beam propagating in an annular drift region, with cavity structures located inside and outside the beam. This geometry fundamentally alters the usual klystron frequency scaling, allowing the overall diameter to be increased to accommodate higher beam current and microwave power. Beam transport and stability are also enhanced by the division of image charges and return current between the inner and outer conductors. Initial X-band experiments at NRL have demonstrated stable beam transport (400 keV, 15 kA) and strong bunching. (M. Friedman, J. Pasour, and D. Smithe, Appl. Phys. Lett. 71, 3724 (1997).) MAGIC simulations of a 400-keV, 2-15 kA, 6-cm radius by 3-mm-thick annular beam show strong bunching at X-band and efficient (50%) energy extraction from a specially designed radial cavity structure. We will describe ongoing work to improve this non-optimized structure and to examine scaling to higher frequencies (up to 30 GHz). Efforts now underway at MRC to build a μs-duration version of this device will also be discussed.
- Publication:
-
APS Division of Plasma Physics Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- November 1998
- Bibcode:
- 1998APS..DPP.K6S24P