Multiple beam guns for high power RF sources

Summary form only given, as follows. Calabazas Creek Research, Inc.(CCR) is funded by the US Department of Energy (DOE) and the Office of Naval Research (ONR) to develop multiple beam electron guns (MBGs) for high power RF sources. The DOE program is tasked with development of an MBG for a 50-100 MW, X-Band klystron for the next generation of high energy accelerators and colliders. The ONR program will design an MBG for a multi-megawatt, S-Band RF source for radar applications. Multiple beam RF sources operate at significantly lower beam voltage than equivalent single beam devices. The reduction in beam voltage improves efficiency, increases bandwidth, and reduces the length of klystrons and traveling wave tubes. More significantly, the reduced voltage simplifies the power supply system and reduces generation of X-rays. For 50-100 MW sources, the reduced voltage allows operation with solid state power supplies. This significantly increases the power supply efficiency and dramatically lowers the cost by eliminating the pulse modulator.