Transmission-Ltne Cavtty Linear-Induction Accelerators

High current pulsed electron beans may be accelerated with nominally 100% efficiency using linear induction accelerators based on charged, internally switched, transmission line cavities. Closed form analytical solutions for the accelerating voltage waveforms have been obtained for a general three-line arrangement which permits the switches to be placed in a region of lower electric field than for the two-line systems. It is shown that a set of line impedance ratios exist for which the nominal 100% efficiency is attained and some of these afford voltage gain. Some also give rise to a repeating open circuit gap voltage which might be useful in an efficient recirculating bean accelerator. Experiments with strip and coaxial line cavity models have been performed which validate the theoretical results, allow a comparison with two-line configurations, and identify the degree to which the theoretical assumptions are valid.