Pulse power linac

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The instant invention provides a LINAC that is constructed by arranging a plurality of accelerating gaps in series and energizing these gaps in sequence by releasing or switching a single pulse of energy which propagates simultaneously along a plurality of transmission lines each of which feeds an individual one of the gaps.
The characteristics of the transmission lines are coordinated so that pulse power is present at each gap as the accelerated particle bunches pass therethrough.
This coordination is achieved by having each of the transmission lines impart a different delay to each portion of the power pulse.
For achieving this type of coordination, the transmission lines are graduated in length with the shortest line feeding the first gap that the particle bunch passes through, the next gap being fed by a longer transmission line, the third gap being fed by an even longer transmission line, and so forth, so that the accelerating field is synchronized with movement of the particle bunch.
In accordance with the instant invention a parallel plate type transmission line structure is provided in which a single elongated three layer laminate, having outside conducting layers that are separated by an insulating layer or vacuum, is slit longitudinally at its central region to form a plurality of longitudinally extending ribbons, the central portions of which are twisted so that they lie at right angles to the plane in which the end portions of the laminate are disposed.
The accelerating path extends through aligned apertures in the twisted sections and in this apertured area the insulating material is cut away.
One unslit end portion at its free end is designated as a power injection region where an energy storage means and a switch for transferring stored energy to the transmission lines are disposed.
A suitable switching device for this purpose is a Blumlein-like pulse forming network arrangement.
In effect, the transmission lines are connected in parallel at the power injection region and the accelerating gaps are in series