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SLAC-PUB-6131
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d--f I
P u lse M o d u lator D e v e l o p m e n ts in S u p p o r t o f K lystron Testin g a t S L A C
R . F. K o o n tx, R . Cassel,J. d e L a m a r e .D . Ficklin. S . G o ld, K . Harris
S ta n fo r d L i n e a r AcceleratorC e n te r
S ta n fo r d ,C A 9 4 3 0 9 U S A
A b s tract
S e v e r a l fa m ilies o f h i g h p o w e r klystrons in S - a n d X -
B a n d a m b e i n g d e v e l o p e din th e K lystron L a b o m tory a t S L A C .
T o s u p p o r tth e s e d e v e l o p m e n ts,a n u m b e r o f n e w p u l s e m o d u -
lators a r e b e i n g d e s i g n e dfrom scratch,o r u p g r a d e dfrom exist-
i n g Ia b o r a tory test m o d u lators. This p a p e r o u tlin e s th e
m o d u lator p a r a m e tersavailable in th e S L A C K lystron L a b o r a -
tory, a n d discusses two n e w m o d u lators th a t a r e u n d e r c o n -
struction.
I. B A C K G R O U N D
Thirty years a g o , th e first b u i l d i n g constructeda t th e n e w
site o f th e S ta n fo r d acceleratorw a s th e K lystron Test L a b . T h e
sourceso f th e m icrowave p o w e r n e e d e dto drive this massive
accelerator w e r e very m u c h in d o u b t. T h e Test L a b w a s
e q u i p p e dwith twelve line typ e m o d u latorsbuilt b y L i n g fo r th e
p u r p o s e o f testing n e w d e v e l o p m e n tal klystrons a n d o th e r
c o m p o n e n tsn e e d i n g h i g h p o w e r S - B a n d rf. O ver th e years,
th e s elest positions h a v e b e e n u p g r a d e da n d radically c h a n g e d
to m e e t th e n e e d s o f o n g o i n g rf d e v e l o p m e n tprojects. C u r -
r e n tly, th e l a b is s u p p o r tin g th e c o n tin u i n g p r o d u c tio n o f th e
6 5 M W .puls&l klystrons th a t p o w e r th e S ta n fo r d L i n e a r Col-
lider ( S L C ) , a n d h a s d e v e l o p m e n tal p r o g r a m s u n d e r w a y o n
b o th S - a n d X - b a n d p u l s e d p o w e r sources.T h e Test L a b n o w
h a s sixteen test positions o f w h i c h five a r e d e d i c a te d to R & D
F i g u r e 1 . K lystron test l a b overview.
* S u p p o r te db y D e p a r tm e n to f E n e r g y c o n tract
1D E - A C O 3 - 7 6 S F O O 5 1 5 .
_-
P r e s e n t e d at the Particle Accelerator C o n f e r e n c e ( P A C 93), Washington,
April 1 9 9 3
(A)
o f n e w klystrons. T h e p h o to g r a p hin Fig. M o w s th e flo o r lay-
o u t o f th e l a b o r a tory. ‘Ibst S ta n d capabilities a r e listed b e l o w ,
a n d d e tails o f th e n e w m o d u lator d e v e l o p m e n tsa r e o u tlin e d in
th e p a r a g r a p h sfollowing.
A . P m d u c tio n TestS ta n d s
TestStands1,5,7,9,& 1 1 a te d e d i c a te d to 6 5 M W p o -
d u c tio n klystron testing. T h e s e test sta n d sa r e c o n v e n tio n a lline
typ e m o d u latorswith thyratron switching. E r i m a r y p o w e r s u p -
plies a r e variable transformerp r o g r a m m e d2 5 k V D C units th a t
m o n a n t c h a r g e two parallel section p u l s e lines. D e Q ing, cut-
tin g o ff th e r e s o n a n t c h a r g e w h e n a r e fe r e n c e voltage is
r e a c h e d ,is u s e d fo r r e g u l a tio n . W h e n th e thyratron fires, a
2 3 k V p u l s e o f 5 p s ( 3 d B p o i n ts) d u r a tio n is s u p p l i e d th r o u g h
a p u l s e c a b l e to th e klystron p u l s e transformer.‘Ih e 1 5 :1 trans-
fo r m e r delivers a 3 5 0 k V p u l s e to th e c a t h o d e o f th e klystron.
T h e klystron p e r v e a n c eis n o m inally 2 ttperv, a n d this trans-
lates to a d e l i v e r e d p u l s e current o f 4 1 4 a m p s .T h e p r i m a r y cur-
r e n t in th e thyratron is in excess o f 6 ,0 0 0 a m p s .A n electrical
layout o f th e s em o d u latorsis s h o w n in Fig. 2 .
B . Thyratron TestS ta n d s
In th e last y e a r th e r e h a s b e e n a m a jor e ffo r t to s e c u r e
m u ltip l e sourceso f reliable thyratrons fo r m o d u lator service a t
S L A C . T h e S L C h a s 2 4 5 o p e r a tin g m o d u lators th a t r e q u i r e
thyratrons, a n d th e fa i h u e r a te o f thyratrons in this service is
a b o u t fo u r p e r w e e k . C u r r e n tly, two m a n u facturers,ITT a n d
E E V , a r e s u p p l y i n g thyratrons, a n d Litton is close to delivering
a n e w l y d e s i g n e dthyratron th a t s h o u l d give l o n g service. ITT
a n d E E V a r e u p g r a d i n g th e i r thyratron d e s i g n s a s well. T h r e e
test sta n d sin th e Test L a b a m d e d i c a te dto thyratron e v a l u a tio n
a n d qualification. ‘Ih y r a u o n testing involves d e ta i l e d m o n ito r -
i n g o f thyratron o p e r a tin g p a r a m e ters.H i g h V o lta g e O ver C u r -
r e n t faults a r e c o u n te d a n d a u to m a tically reset d u r i n g
p r o c e s s i n ga n d a c c e p ta n c etesting. E a c h test m o d u lator o p e r -
S IM P L IFIED S C H E M A T I C - 3 5 0 k V M O D U l A T O l ?
F i g u r e 2 . S ta n d a r dp u l s e m o d u lator s c h e m a tic.
DC, M a y 1 7 - 2 0 , 2993
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-- t,
- .I

ais5 I I I I I l l l will b e d e d i c a te d to r i n g drive service. This test sta n d will b e

BeemV 43oKv o p e r a tio n a lb y A u g u s t 1 9 9 3 .
484amDs
E . M e d i u m V o lta g eX - B a n d R & D TestS ta r &
T h e two test sta n d s m e n tio n e d a b o v e , 6 a n d 8 , h a v e b e e n
u p g r a d e d with n e twork m o d ifications-ITT-303 1 2 ,0 0 0 a m p
thyratrons, a n d 2 O zl r a tio p u l s e transformer ta n k s close c o u -
p l e d to th e m o d u lators to p r o d u c e 6 0 0 n s rise tim e b e a m volt-
a g e pulses u p to 4 5 0 k V . T h e n e tworks c a n b e c o n fig u r e d to
p r o d u c epulses a s short a s 6 0 0 ns, o c a s l o n g a s 1 .7 ps. X - B a n d
R & D klystrons o p e r a tea t a n o m inal p e a v e a n c eo f 1 .8 p p e r v .A t
full voltage, th e rhyratron m u s t switch o v e r ll,O C @a m p s from
th e n e twork. T h e I T T - 3 0 3 l a r g e c a t h o d e thyratron h a s this
capability.
3 a u s ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ 4.04a T h e electrical c o n fig u r a tio n o f th e s e two m o d u lators is
4s
5-03
400 nom 7c!oM sim ilar to th a t o f th e p r o d u c tio n m o d u lators, b u t th e layout is
o p tim ized to r e d u c e stray i n d u c t a n c e a n d capacitance.Tbis
F i g u r e 3 . Test sta n d 8 b e a m p u l s e voltage.
p e r m i ts th e fast rise tim e s o b ta i n e d in th e b e a m p u l s e i m a g e
P F N x3
s h o w n in Fig. 3
1
E 6 5 0 R V ,1 .2 clpervB l u d e i n TestS ta n dfo r X - B a n d
P F N #l - P F N #I - (r I 3)
K lystron R & D
( r = 1) T h e p a r a m e terso f this test m o d u lator w e r e p r e s e n te d
( R e f. 2 ) b y Cassel e t al. This m o d u lator d e s i g n is u n d e r c o n -
21 struction in th e K lystron Test L a b in test sta n d position 3 . ‘Ih e
503 7420A7 th r e e section n e twork in th e B l u m l e i n c o n fig u r a tio n is c h a r g e d
.--
F i g u r e 4 . Test-stand3 B l u m l e i n s c h e m a tic in th e c o n v e n tio n a l r e s o n a n tc h a r g i n g m o d e b y a p r o g r a m m a -
b l e 4 5 k V D C p o w e r supply. T h e variable a u to transformero f
a te s into a p u l s e transformer ta n k e q u i p p e d with a glass-tube- th e original test sta n d is u s e d fo r level c o n trol, a n d a n e w S C R
e n c l o s e d liquid l o a d , c o n ta i n i n g a d e te r g e n tsolution, in p l a c e switching b r i d g e in th e p o w e r supply p r i m a r y is u s e d to p r o -
o f th e tit% l-kljM r o n . T h e s e test sta n d sa r e also u s e d to d y n a m - vide “soft sta r t” capability. L a te r , this circuit will b e u s e d fo r
. ically test all p u l s e transformer-tank assemblies b e fo r e direct voltage c o n trol. T h e th r e e sta g e Darlington n e twork th a t
klystrons a r e m a te d to th e tanks. c o m p o s e sth e p u l s e fo r m i n g line delivers a n o u tp u t p u l s e o f 1 .5
C. S-BandResonanR t i n g - W i n d o w Test tim e s th e p e a k c h a r g i n g voltage to th e p u l s e transformerw h e n
O n e test sta n d is d e d i c a te dto o p e r a tio n o f a n existing res- th e tbyratron is lired. A block s c h e m a tic o f this n e twork is
o n a n tr i n g w h i c h c a n circulate o v e r 2 0 0 M W . T h e m o d u lator in s h o w n in Fig.4. T h e u s e o f this voltage m u ltiplier n e twork
this test sta n d h a s a n e x t e n d e d n e twork th a t delivers a 6 .5 p s allows th e thyratron to s e e only th e P F N c h a r g i n g voltage o f
b e a m pulse. A 5 0 4 5 klystron delivers u p to 5 0 M W o f rf ( 5 ~ ) 8 5 k V while delivering a n e twork o u tp u t voltage o f 1 2 7 k V .
to th e ring, o r to a s e p a r a tew i n d o w test w a v e g u i d e assembly. W ith a c o n v e n tio n a l p u l s e line th e o u tp u t voltage w o u l d only
W i n d o w s w e r e previously tested in th e ring, b u t it h a s b e e n h a v e b e e n 4 2 k V . A serious lim ita tio n to fast rise tim e is leak-
fo u n d to b e m o r e e ffective to test w i n d o w s with th e full o u tp u t a g e i n d u c t a n c e in h i g h r a tio p u l s e transformers. U s i n g this
o f th e klystron w h i c h acts a s a l o w e r i m p e d a n c edrive s o u r c e B l u m l e i n m u ltiplier te c h n i q u e , a fast rise tim e p u l s e trans-
th a n th e h i g h Q r e s o n a n tring. In th e ring, fields collapse r a p - fo r m e r o f only 6 :l r a tio c a n b e e m p l o y e d in th e system, a n d
idly w h e n a d i s c h a r g eoccurs a t a test w i n d o w , a n d th e w i n d o w still p r o d u c e klystron c a t h o d eb e a m pulses o f o v e r 6 5 0 k V . A ll
is n o t d a m a g e d .W h e n d r i v e n directly from a klystron, th e c o m p o n e n tsfo r this m o d u lator a r e n o w in h o u s e including th e
fields d o n o t collapse, a n d th e klystron drives e n e r g y into a p u l s e transformer,a n d low level n e twork testing is u n d e r w a y .
w i n d o w discharge,s u c h th a t s u b s e q u e n inspection
t s h o w s it to W e e x p e c t this m o d u lator to b e a s s e m b l e da n d r e a d y fo r h i g h
h d e fective. W i n d o w s u s e d o n p r o d u c tio n klystrons g o p o w e r testing in th e Fall o f 1 9 9 3 .
th r o u g h this direct drive testing process. G . 5 .5 0 k V , I .8 wrv Test S ta n dfo r 1 5 0 IUW S - B a n d klystron
D . X - B a n d R e s o n a n tR i n g Test S ta n d Development
‘h o h i g h voltage test sta n d s h a v e b e e n d e d i c a te d to th e Test S ta n d 1 3 is b e i n g m o d ifie d to o p e r a te a 1 5 0 M W S -
d e v e l o p m e n to f h i g h p o w e r X - B a n d klystrons. O n e o f th e s e B a n d klystron, with m i c r o p e m e a n c e1 .8 , a t a b e a m voltage o f
test sta n d sh a s b e e n u s e d intermittently to drive a n X - B a n d res- 5 5 0 k V m a x i m u m . T h e m o s t e x p e d i tio u s a n d cost e ffective
o n a n t r i n g th a t c a n o p e r a te a t o v e r 3 0 0 M W circulating p o w e r m e th o d o f m o d ification is to b u i l d a sta n d a r dline-type m o d u la-
( R e f. 1 ) . T o allow this r i n g to b e u s e d regularly in c o m p o n e n t to r u s i n g a s m a n y o f th e existing m o d u lator c o m p o n e n tsa s
testing, a n e w , b u t c o m p l e tely c o n v e n tio n a l m o d u lator a n d test possible. T h e existing set u p h a s a 2 5 k V p o w e r supply a n d
position is u n d e r construction th a t will p r o v i d e a 3 p s b e a m c h a r g i n g c h o k e system, a n d 5 0 k V thyratrons a r e available. A
p u l s e o f u p to 4 0 0 k V to a n e x p e r i m e n talX - B a n d klystron th a t p u l s e transformer r a tio o f 1 :2 3 a n d a P u lse F o r m i n g N e twork

2
I
SIMPLIFIED SCHEMATIC-550 kV MODULATOR 7&t
Figure 5. Test stand 3 (550 kV) modulator schematic.
impedance of 1.3 ohms was chosen to obtain the slight positive
mismatch. Based on the PFN impedance, the reflected klystron
impedance, and the required output voltage, the thyratron volt-
age (PFN voltage) will be 46 kV which is a comfortable oper-
ating point for a 50 kV thyratmn. The total thyratron discharge
curmit is 17,000 amperes. Two ITT Model 303 Thyratrons will
be usedtodischarge the PFN.
Stangenes Industries of Palo Alto, California is designing
a pulse transformer with a 600 ns rise time (10% to 90%) and
3.5 ps flat- top for this application. The required PFN pulse
width is 4.5 ps.
The rise time of the output pulse to the klystron is domi-
nated by the rise time of the pulse transformer. However, a lO-
section PFN is needed so that the beam pulse width can be
shortened, by removing sections, during initial turn on and pro-
cessing of the klystron yet still maintain a usable pulse shape.
The impedances are very low and the peak currents high in this
type of conventional design. Wiring and component induc-
tances can significantly effect the output pulse and system
noise. These potential problems are addressed by:
a) using four parallel, ten-section PFNs and discharging
- each pair with a thyratron.
b) mechanically designing the PFNs, thyratrons, etc. in a
symmetrical configuration with short leads to the pulse
. transformer that can be copper bus.
‘Ihe four parallel PFN’s, as shown in Fig. 6 enable each
inductor to be four times larger than an equivalent single PFN
structure. The calculated value for each inductor is 1.16 pHen-
rys. The inductors afe designed for 1.3 pHenrys and can be
tapped and fine tuned with a slug. Each of the inductors is in
series with one of the forty capacitors. The capacitance of each
section is nominally 0.045 #Grads, which is similar to the
capacitors already in use. The plastic case capacitors manufac-
tured today are significantly smaller than those in use at SLAC
and can be made with much lower internal inductance
(35 nHy). Using4” x 6” capacitors approximately 13” long, the
TEsr3m13 s.Loou) 4rBs3
MODULATOR LAYOUT
t?l 7m
Figure 6. Test stand 13 modulator layout.
four Parallel Pms can be packaged in the same space as the
present systems.
To make room for all the inductors, the capacitors am
altemated such that two PFN’s face one direction and two face
the opposite direction. This layout is shown in Fig. 7. Also
shown is the placement of the thyratrons and the pulse trans-
former tank. Each thyratron discharges two PFN’s. Because of
the symmetry and close proximity of the components, the
inductances can be minimized and somewhat equalized.
The pulse transformer and cathode end of the klystron are
housed in a round tank. This tank will also be used on the 650
kV modulator.
2. Other Test Lab Support Facilities
The Test Lab is also home to two major testing facilities,
the 70 kV. half-Megawatt CW rf test stand that is used for pro-
cessing and qualifying PEP klystrons, and the X-Band acceler-
ator Test Facility where X-Band power from experimental
klystrons is used to power accelerator structures (Ref. 3). This
facility is equipped with an electron gun and a spectrometer. A
new 1.2 MW CW rf test stand is being planned for testing a B
factory klystron.
References
[II Component Development for X-Band Above 100 MW W.
R. Fowkes, et al 1991 IEEE Particle Accelerator Conf.
SLAC-PUB-5544.
PI 600 kV Modulator Design for the SLAC Next Linear
Collider Test Accelerator R. Cassel et al 20th Power
Modulator Symposium, Myrtle Beach, SC SLAC-PUB-
5851.
[31 Accelerator and RF System Developments for NLC A. E.
Vlieks, et al This Conference SLAC-PUB-7415.