Modular High Power RF Sources for Compact Linear Accelerator Systems

SLAC is pursuing high efficiency, low cost RF source designs that are suitable for mass production, in order to enable the next generation of linear accelerators. These efforts have driven the development of compact linac systems with integrated modulators, klystrons, and accelerator structures, based on a modular, low voltage klystron topology. There is substantial demand for compact linacs for X-ray radiography with security applications, and for new radiation therapy machines that reduce treatment times by orders of magnitude and may yield beneficial biological effects. In this presentation, details and challenges for these new compact accelerator systems and the corresponding RF sources are discussed.