Intense particle beam facilities, such as free-electron lasers, suggest the need for converting the energy, invested in their particle beams, back into dc (direct current) power. Some short-pulsed beam facilities, such as the next generation of linear colliders, would benefit from the conversion of the rf energy left in excited cavities back into dc power. This project will address this situation by developing a family of "rf power rectifiers" to recover excess rf energy from future intense particle beams and related facilities. Whereas little is known about the properties of these devices, the components that make them up and the techniques for evaluating them are familiar to those experience in the fields of accelerator physics/engineering. The generic format for these devices is an rf cavity to collect the rf energy, shunted by a biased-diode array to extract energy during peak voltage swings. The Phase I effort will address the identification of the problem, a survey of the needs for rf power rectifiers, a description of some of the solutions based on these devices, and an analysis of the impact that they will have on nuclear physics and related technologies. A low-power prototype for an rf power rectifier for one of the identified applications will be designed, fabricated, and tested. The Phase II effort will continue the development of these devices to include convergence on one or two specific rf power rectifier applications, specific designs for these applications, and a power prototypes to demonstrate their performance.
Commercial Applications and Other Benefits as described by the awardee:This project will lead to the development of a family of rf power rectifiers to enhance the energy efficiency of certain intense particle beam facilities. A number of potential applications arise in conjunction with future federally funded intense particle beam facilities. Commercial application of the Free Electron Laser is dependent on this type of device.
