55
High-Power 11.4 GHz Microwave Components for Active Bragg Pulse Compressor--Omega-P, Inc., 345 Whitney Avenue, Suite 100, New Haven, CT 06511; 203-458-1144
Dr. Oleg A. Nezhevenko, Principal Investigator
Mr. George P. Trahan, Business Official
DOE Grant No. DE-FG02-98ER82630
Amount: $600,000
The world-wide quest for a future high-gradient electron/positron accelerator will require advanced components to compress microwave pulses, in order to obtain the necessary high peak powers. This project will is to develop a new type of active pulse compressor, using an electrical switch and a high-order mode cavity with Bragg reflectors to store—and then release—the microwave energy. The major challenges include development of a quasi-optical 3-dB directional coupler and fast microwave switching with acceptable phase stability. In Phase I, experiments at low microwave power were conducted to show that acceptable phase stability could be achieved with electrically-switched microwave reflectors, and that a 3-dB directional coupler could successfully couple together two Active Bragg Compressors. Design work was also completed on several quasi-optical 3-dB directional couplers. Phase II will build, test and evaluate two 3-dB directional couplers at low power, one of which will be selected for use in the two-channel Active Bragg Compressor. Improved phase-stable, electrically-switched reflectors will be fabricated and installed in the two compressors. Lastly, a two-channel compressor will be installed at magnicon facility and tests will be conducted for a pulse power output of at least 100 MW.
Commercial Applications and other Benefits as described by the awardee: The Next Linear Collider will require several thousand high power pulse compressors. This design for an Active Bragg Compressor should fulfill technical specifications and should open up a market with potential value of over $100 million. High power pulse compressors also have application in testing components.