Electromagnetic field measurements a millimeter wave linear accelerator

Perturbational field strength measurements suitable for use on a proposed 120-GHz 50-MeV electron linear accelerator are described. The measurements are used to determine the R/Q of the device, where R is the shunt impedance. The perturbation is achieved by the use of hollow metallic cylinders with diameters ranging from 25 to 127 /spl mu/m which are approximately 500 /spl mu/m long. The cylinders were fabricated by sputtering aluminum through a shadow mask onto silica optical fibers as well as nylon surgical thread. The perturbational "form factors" for such a geometry are experimentally determined using a pillbox cavity. The measured values for the form factors are compared to theoretical estimations, which result in simple analytical expressions. The measured form factors are also compared to values calculated from a finite difference model of the perturbing object. The R/Q for various accelerating modes is measured on a 12-GHz model of the 120-GHz structure. Results are compared to predictions from a finite difference model of the accelerating structure.