Phase I Final Repoert
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gyrotron, fusion, electron cyclotron heating, plas↗
Engineering topics
Collins, George
Publications and source records attributed to Collins, George.
Development of a 1.3 GHz 100 kW CW High Efficiency Klystron
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24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗
Final technical report
A new series of MW-class, RF loads were developed that can dissipate power levels exceeding 1.5 MW at frequencies from 28 GHz to 180 GHz. The new loads are designed to reflect less than 0.25% of the input power and operate continuously (CW). Stainless-steel and anodized aluminum versions were developed. The stainless steel version is designed to meet requirements for nuclear facilities, such as ITER, while the aluminum version is capable of power levels exceeding 2 MW CW. The aluminum version is also lighter and less expensive. This report describes the design activities during the program and the performance characteristics of the loads.
46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
Direct Coupled Gyrotron for Plasma Heating. Phase II Final Report
This program was tasked with rebuilding an existing gyrotron with a direct ouput coupler. The direct coupler section was built and tested. The program also build an new electron gun and output window. Most subassemblies were completed for a new collector. This report describes the testing and fabrication of components. Unfortunately, issues with the collector assembly depleted funds before the program could be completed. Additional funds will be required to complete the collector and rebuild and test the gyrotron.
70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
High Efficiency, Low Cost RF Sources for Accelerators and Colliders
Calabazas Creek Research, Inc. (CCR) and its collaborators are developing high efficiency, low cost RF sources. Phase and Amplitude Controlled Magnetrons: CCR, Fermilab, and Communications & Power Industries, LLC (CPI) recently developed a 100 kW, 1.3 GHz magnetron system with amplitude and phase control. The system operated at more than 80% efficiency and demonstrated rapid control of amplitude and phase. Multiple Beam Triodes: CCR, in collaboration with CPI and JP Accelerator Works, Inc., is developing 200 kW, pulsed and CW RF sources from 350 to 700 MHz with projected efficiencies exceeding 80% and cost of $0.50/Watt. Prototype tubes are scheduled for tests in spring 2021. High Efficiency Klystrons:CCR, CPI, and Leidos, Inc. are building a 1.3 GHz, 100 kW klystron operating at 80% efficiency. High power testing is scheduled for summer 2021. Multiple Beam IOTs: CCR and Georgia Tech Research Institute are developing MBIOTs with simplified input coupling and high efficiency. Simulations indicate that 3rd harmonic drive power can increase the efficiency 8-10 %. The program is developing a prototype tube to produce 200 kW peak, 100 kW average power at 704 MHz.
43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗
A 100 kW 1.3 GHz Magnetron System with Amplitude and Phase Control
Calabazas Creek Research, Inc., Fermilab, and Communications & Power Industries, LLC, developed a 100 kW peak, 10 kW average, 1.3 GHz, magnetron-based, RF system for driving accelerators. Efficiency varied between 81% and 87%. Phase locking uses a novel approach that provides fast amplitude and phase control when coupled into a superconducting accelerator cavity [1]. The system was successfully tested at Fermilab and produced 100 kW in 1.5 ms pulses at a repetition rate of 2 pps. A locking bandwidth of 0.9 MHz was achieved with a drive signal of 269 W injected through a 4 port circulator. The phase locking signal was 25 dB below the magnetron output power. The spectrum of the phase locked magnetron was suitable for driving accelerator cavities. Phase modulation was demonstrated to 50 kHz (the limit of the available driver source). The average power was limited by available conditioning time. Scaling indicates 42 kW of average power should be achievable. Estimated cost is less than $1/Watt of delivered RF power, exclusive of power supplies or modulators. System design and performance measurements will be presented.
43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗
A 100-kW 1300-MHz Magnetron With Amplitude and Phase Control for Accelerators
Calabazas Creek Research, Inc. (CCR), in collaboration with Fermilab and Communications and Power Industries, LLC (CPI), developed a 100-kW peak, 10-kW average, 1300-MHz, magnetron-based, RF system with amplitude and phase control for driving accelerators. Phase locking was achieved using an approach originated at Fermilab that uses phase modulation of the locking signal to control the amplitude and phase into a superconducting cavity on a fast time scale. Experimental results, including demonstration of phase locking and amplitude control, are reported.
43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗
Robust RF Photocathodes (Phase II Final Report)
This program addressed requirements for photocathodes with high quantum efficiency (QE) and long lifetimes. Currently, photocathodes with QEs above 1% exhibit lifetimes measured in a few hours. This is unacceptable for commercial devices using photocathodes as the electron source. This includes accelerators for industrial, medical, defense, and educational applications as well as emerging applications, such as time resolved electron microscopy. Calabazas Creek Research, Inc. (CCR) and the University of Maryland (UMD) attempted to develop reservoir photocathodes that dramatically increased lifetime and increased the ability to recover from contaminating events, such as loss of system vacuum. The Phase I program demonstrated the viability of the reservoir approach for higher QE cathodes. The Phase II program focused on design, fabrication, and delivery. This included increasing understanding of photocathode physics, investigating design options, addressing performance issues, and developing fabrication and packaging techniques leading to commercial products. The initial task identified specific photocathode materials that provide high QE and are compatible with the reservoir approach. The goal was that these photocathodes be manufacturable in a production environment, understanding that the “environment” is highly specialized. The photocathode geometry was modified to address several photogun performance issues related primarily to emittance. A goal was to reduce or eliminate thermal emittance issues arising from the reservoir heater. The program developed fabrication, handling, and transport techniques and facilities to allow commercial photocathode production for certain materials. Not only was complex chemistry involved, but practical issues of transporting and installing the cathodes into user systems were addressed. A critical goal was demonstration of reservoir photocathodes in operating RF guns, where performance could be directly measured. Success depended on clear demonstration that the cathodes could be produced, delivered, installed, and provide the required performance. The principal effort in this program was to develop reservoir cesium antimonide photocathodes. Cesium antimonide cathodes provide a work function in excess of the 1% goal, while the current generation exhibits lifetimes measured in hours. The reservoir in CCRs’ controlled porosity reservoir (CPR) cathodes provides a mechanism for replacing cesium evaporating from the surface by transporting replacement cesium from the reservoir. This is accomplished by gently heating the reservoir to induce cesium diffusion through micron-scale pores in the reservoir cap and photocathode emitter. Experiments at the UMD determined that cesium diffused from the reservoir would only react with antimony on the surface if the temperature exceeded 300C. At this temperature, however, the surface cesium evaporated faster than it could be replenished from the reservoir. Consequently, the QE decreased each time recessiation was attempted. This appears to be a fundamental problem with this approach. The sections below provide information on accomplishments for each task in the program. Once the issue with cesium antimonide cathodes was identified, CCR refocused the program to begin investigation of graphene coated photocathodes in collaboration with SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory (SLAC). The photocathode test chamber developed in the program was transferred to SLAC for use in the graphene research. This is described below in a task added to the program.
43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗
Nanoscale Metal Oxide Coatings for Corrosion Protection of Superalloy Materials
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heat exchanger↗
Advanced Output Coupling for High Power Gyrotrons
The Phase II program developed an internal RF coupler that transforms the whispering gallery RF mode produced in gyrotron cavities to an HE11 waveguide mode propagating in corrugated waveguide. This power is extracted from the vacuum using a broadband, chemical vapor deposited (CVD) diamond, Brewster angle window capable of transmitting more than 1.5 MW CW of RF power over a broad range of frequencies. This coupling system eliminates the Mirror Optical Units now required to externally couple Gaussian output power into corrugated waveguide, significantly reducing system cost and increasing efficiency. The program simulated the performance using a broad range of advanced computer codes to optimize the design. Both a direct coupler and Brewster angle window were built and tested at low and high power. Test results confirmed the performance of both devices and demonstrated they are capable of achieving the required performance for scientific, defense, industrial, and medical applications.
70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
1.5 MW RF Load for ITER
Calabazas Creek Research, Inc. developed a 1.5 MW RF load for the ITER fusion research facility currently under construction in France. This program leveraged technology developed in two previous SBIR programs that successfully developed high power RF loads for fusion research applications. This program specifically focused on modifications required by revised technical performance, materials, and assembly specification for ITER. This program implemented an innovative approach to actively distribute the RF power inside the load to avoid excessive heating or arcing associated with constructive interference. The new design implemented materials and assembly changes required to meet specifications. Critical components were built and successfully tested during the program.
70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
Experimental observation of sub-terahertz backward-wave amplification in a multi-level microfabricated slow-wave circuit
In our earlier paper dealing with dispersion retrieval from ultra-deep, reactive-ion-etched, slow-wave circuits on silicon substrates, it was proposed that splitting high-aspect-ratio circuits into multilevels enabled precise characterization in sub-terahertz frequency regime. This achievement prompted us to investigate beam-wave interaction through a vacuum-sealed integration with a 15-kV, 85-mA, thermionic, electron gun. Our experimental study demonstrates sub-terahertz, backward-wave amplification driven by an external oscillator. The measured output shows a frequency downshift, as well as power amplification, from beam loading even with low beam perveance. This offers a promising opportunity for the development of terahertz radiation sources, based on silicon technologies.
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
High Current Density, Long Life Cathodes for High Power RF Sources
This program was tasked with improving the quality and expanding applications for Controlled Porosity Reservoir (CPR) cathodes. Calabazas Creek Research, Inc. (CCR) initially developed CPR cathodes on a DOE-funded SBIR program to improve cathodes for magnetron injection guns. Subsequent funding was received from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency. The program developed design requirements for implementation of the technology into high current density cathodes for high frequency applications. During Phase I of this program, CCR was awarded the prestigious 2011 R&D100 award for this technology. Subsequently, the technology was presented at numerous technical conferences. A patent was issued for the technology in 2009. These cathodes are now marketed by Semicon Associates, Inc. in Lexington, KY. They are the world’s largest producer of cathodes for vacuum electron devices. During this program, CCR teamed with Semicon Associates, Inc. and Ron Witherspoon, Inc. to improve the fabrication processes and expand applications for the cathodes. Specific fabrications issues included the quality of the wire winding that provides the basic structure and the sintering to bond the wires into a robust, cohesive structure. The program also developed improved techniques for integrating the resulting material into cathodes for electron guns.
43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗
The new RF sources for accelerators
Several new RF sources are being developed for accelerator and collider applications. Assembly is nearing completion of a multiple beam inductive output tube at 352 MHz. An annular beam klystron is being developed to produce 10 MW pulses at 1.3 GHz. The annular beam approach provides significant cost reduction over similar multiple beam devices. Fabrication is underway on a 10 kW, periodic permanent magnet klystron at 2.815 GHz. Permanent magnets eliminate the solenoid and associated power supplies and cooling requirements to reduce operational cost. Investigations are beginning on a novel approach for driving accelerator cavities using pulse shaping to increase coupling efficiency and dramatically reduce RF power requirements.
43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗
Development of a 2 MW CW Waterload for Electron Cyclotron Heating Systems
Calabazas Creek Research, Inc. developed a load capable of continuously dissipating 2 MW of RF power from gyrotrons. The input uses HE11 corrugated waveguide and a rotating launcher to uniformly disperse the power over the lossy surfaces in the load. This builds on experience with a previous load designed to dissipate 1 MW of continuous RF power. The 2 MW load uses more advanced RF dispersion to double the capability in the same size device as the 1 MW load. The new load reduces reflected power from the load to significantly less than 1 %. This eliminates requirements for a preload to capture reflected power. The program updated control electronics that provides all required interlocks for operation and measurement of peak and average power. The program developed two version of the load. The initial version used primarily anodized aluminum to reduce weight and cost. The second version used copper and stainless steel to meet specifications for the ITER reactor currently under construction in France. Tests of the new load at the Japanese Atomic Energy Agency confirmed operation of the load to a power level of 1 MW, which is the highest power currently available for testing the load. Additional tests will be performed at General Atomics in spring 2013. The U.S. ITER organization will test the copper/stainless steel version of the load in December 2012 or early in 2013. Both loads are currently being marketed worldwide.
70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
2 MW CW RF load for gyrotrons
Final design and assembly are in progress for a 2MW CW RF load for gyrotrons. Such loads are required for testing high power gyrotrons for electron cyclotron heating of fusion plasmas. The research is building on experience with a 1 MW load to increase the power capability, reduce backscattered RF power, and improve the mechanical design. (author)
43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗
Recent Advances in Thermionic Cathodes
The latest advances in thermionic cathodes, including scandate and controlled porosity reservoir cathodes, are reviewed. These new cathodes provide improved performance over conventional cathodes for many applications. Advantages and disadvantages are presented.
43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗