Grid-Controlled Power Tubes in Particle-Accelerator Applications

Typical illustrative examples are cited for the use of grid-controlled power tubes in the various classes of particle accelerators, e.g., cyclotrons, synchrocyclotrons, proton synchrotrons, electron synchrotrons, and linear accelerators, A state-of-the-art review of triode and tetrode power-tube technology is presented, together with some apparent trends in the design and development of new tubes. The use of triodes and tetrodes with integral cavity-resonators enhances the feasibility of their use at increasingly higher frequencies and/or power levels. In addition to their use as radiofrequency generators in particle accelerators, grid-controlled power tubes are also applicable as pulse modulators and amplitude regulators. The unique advantages of gridded power tubes for particle accelerators are discussed.