Nonlinear permittivity effects in dielectric accelerating structures

New low loss ferroelectric ceramic materials possessing large variations in the permittivity as a function of the electric field present interesting and potentially useful applications for dielectric loaded accelerating structures, both wakefield-based and driven by an external rf source. We will consider X-band cylindrical dielectric structures and report numerical results on frequency multiplication, wave steepening and shock formation, and the effect of nonlinearities on the mode structure of these devices. We will examine applications of nonlinear dielectric devices to high gradient acceleration, rf sources, and beam diagnostics.