Slot resonance coupled standing wave linear particle accelerator

Abstract

A slot resonance coupled, linear standing wave particle accelerator. The accelerator includes a series of resonant accelerator cavities positioned along a beam line, which are connected by resonant azimuthal slots formed in interior walls separating adjacent cavities. At least some of the slots are resonant at a frequency comparable to the resonant frequency of the cavities. The resonant slots are offset from the axis of the accelerator and have a major dimension extending in a direction transverse to the radial direction with respect to the accelerator axis. The off-axis resonant slots function to magnetically couple adjacent cavities of the accelerator while also advancing the phase difference between the standing wave in adjacent cavities by 180 degrees in addition to the 180 degree phase difference resulting from coupling of the standing wave in each cavity with the adjacent slot, such that the signals in each cavity are in phase with one another and each cavity functions as a live accelerating cavity. The resonance frequency of the slot is the comparable to the resonance frequency of the cavities, resulting in coupling of the cavities while also eliminating the need for side-cavity or other off-axis coupling cavities.