RF power upgrade at the superconducting 1.3 GHz CW LINAC “ELBE” with solid state amplifiers

The RF power for the superconducting 1.3 GHz CW LINAC “ELBE” has been doubled from less than 10 kW to 20 kW per cavity. In January 2012 the four 10 kW klystrons used to drive the four superconducting cavities of the LINAC have been replaced by pairs of 10 kW solid state power amplifiers (SSPA). ELBE is now worldwide the first 1.3 GHz CW LINAC equipped with solid state RF power amplifiers. This technical note details on this project.

► We report the first installation of 10 kW solid state RF-amplifiers at 1.3 GHz CW LINAC.
► The sc. cavities of “ELBE” are now driven by a pair of 10 kW solid state amplifiers (SSPA).
► The RF-power upgrade allows doubling the electron beam current (CW).
► Advantages of the new RF system are high reliability, easy service and lower costs.