We offer effective solutions for scientific particle accelerators

Particle accelerators play an important role in many questions involved in basic research in high energy physics.

●  What is the internal structure of matter?
●  How can a plasma be sufficiently heated to produce the same type of
    nuclear  fusion that occurs in the sun?
●  How can intense ultra-short wavelength X-ray radiation be produced?

Particle accelerators are used to investigate these questions.  Charged particles (i.e. electrons, positrons, protons, ions) are accelerated to high energy by electric fields in cavity structures which are fed by high power microwave generators.

The internal atomic structure is investigated using storage rings with counter-rotating particle beams, or in linear accelerators with beams in opposite directions.  The accelerated beams are collided and the showers of sub-nuclear particles and fragments are analyzed to deduce the structure of the original particles.

In nuclear fusion research, the plasma is heated sufficiently for the hydrogen-helium fusion process to occur.  Extreme temperatures up to 100 million ˚C are required.

Ultra-short wavelength intense X-ray radiation is produced by accelerating electrons around a circular  path in a synchrotron.  Electrons on a curved trajectory emit synchrotron radiation and the radiation intensity can be enhanced by wiggler and undulator structures.  The synchrotron light sources in numerous world-wide locations operate in this way.

The charged particles are accelerated in cavities.   In fusion applications, Tokamak magnetic action by itself does not provide sufficient heating.  Microwave energy is also applied to boost heating of the plasma electrons.  The necessary accelerating/heating energy is provided by high power RF generators, which are typically klystrons or magnetrons, although other generator types are also used.  The efficiency, stability and service life of these generators is impaired by reverse power reflections from accelerator cavities.  It is essential to provide isolation to protect the generators from these unwanted power reflections.  Excessive reflections can occur from changes in particle beam loading in the cavity and other RF mismatch/detuning effects.

The AFT solution:  Ferrite circulators, isolators, absorbers, fast ferrite tuners and I-Q modulators.

Typically, a ferrite circulator is installed between the generator output and the accelerator cavity or Tokamak Torus.  In conjunction with a high power absorber, this provides isolation protection against reverse power reflections.  The unwanted reverse power is diverted into the absorber and is not sent back to the generator.  To protect against the worst-case operating scenario, AFT circulators for accelerator applications are frequently designed for operation into a continuous short circuit.  Short circuit operation is routinely demonstrated in commissioning testing at RF power levels up to and beyond 1 MW CW.

A fast ferrite tuner can be used to maintain optimum RF power transfer into the cavity (or Tokamak Torus). I-Q modulators are used to vary both amplitude and phase of a microwave signal fed into an applicator.