A device for generating soft x-rays includes an electron source configured to generate an electron beam comprising electron micro-bunches; an electron accelerator configured to accelerate the electron micro-bunches from the electron source; and a laser configured to generate a laser beam (536) colliding with the accelerated electron micro-bunches (534) in a counterpropagating direction to generate the soft x-rays by inverse Compton scattering. The electron source has a magneto-optical trap configured to produce an ultracold atomic gas; two counterpropagating excitation laser beams configured to produce a standing wave for inducing a periodic spatial modulation of the ultracold atomic gas along a beam propagation direction; and an ionization laser configured to induce photo-ionization of the ultracold atomic gas.

One or more example embodiments of the present invention relates to a radiofrequency source for a linear accelerator system, to the linear accelerator system, to a method for operating a radiofrequency source, and to an associated computer program product.

There is provided a particle accelerator comprising a waveguide for accelerating electrons along an acceleration path and a magnetron configured to supply a radiofrequency electromagnetic field to the waveguide. An oscilloscope is connected to the magnetron and configured to provide signals indicative of the magnetron output. A processor is configured to receive signals from the oscilloscope and to send data to a central server.

There is provided a particle accelerator comprising a waveguide for accelerating electrons along an acceleration path and a magnetron configured to supply a radiofrequency electromagnetic field to the waveguide. An oscilloscope is connected to the magnetron and configured to provide signals indicative of the magnetron output. A processor is configured to receive signals from the oscilloscope and to send data to a central server.

A radio frequency electron accelerator structure for local frequency modulation includes an accelerating cavity, a coupling cavity, and a beam hole. The accelerating cavity and the coupling cavity are alternately assembled together, and the beam hole penetrates the accelerating cavity and the coupling cavity. A local cutting area is arranged inside both the accelerating cavity and the coupling cavity. A local frequency modulation method for a radio frequency electron accelerator is further provided. In the frequency modulation stage of the accelerating cavity, the local cutting area of the accelerating cavity is cut. When the feed amount is large, the change of the volume of the cavity is still small, and the generated frequency variation of the cavity is small, which significantly reduces the difficulty of frequency modulation, lowers the accuracy requirements of machine tools at the same time, and decreases the cost of enterprises accordingly.

A radio frequency electron accelerator structure for local frequency modulation includes an accelerating cavity, a coupling cavity, and a beam hole. The accelerating cavity and the coupling cavity are alternately assembled together, and the beam hole penetrates the accelerating cavity and the coupling cavity. A local cutting area is arranged inside both the accelerating cavity and the coupling cavity. A local frequency modulation method for a radio frequency electron accelerator is further provided. In the frequency modulation stage of the accelerating cavity, the local cutting area of the accelerating cavity is cut. When the feed amount is large, the change of the volume of the cavity is still small, and the generated frequency variation of the cavity is small, which significantly reduces the difficulty of frequency modulation, lowers the accuracy requirements of machine tools at the same time, and decreases the cost of enterprises accordingly.

Embodiments of the disclosed technology provide an apparatus for controlling a standing wave linear accelerator. An example standing wave linear accelerator includes an accelerating tube, a motor, and a microwave power source connected between the accelerating tube and the motor. An example apparatus includes a main processor configured to receive an envelope signal of a reflected wave signal output by the accelerating tube, determine whether an amplitude of the envelope signal is greater than an envelope threshold, and if it is determined that the amplitude of the envelope signal is less than the envelope threshold, determine whether to change a rotation direction of the motor by comparing the amplitude of the envelope signal with an envelope reference signal stored in a memory. The memory is connected to the main processor and is configured to store the envelope threshold and the envelope reference signal.

Embodiments of the disclosed technology provide an apparatus for controlling a standing wave linear accelerator. An example standing wave linear accelerator includes an accelerating tube, a motor, and a microwave power source connected between the accelerating tube and the motor. An example apparatus includes a main processor configured to receive an envelope signal of a reflected wave signal output by the accelerating tube, determine whether an amplitude of the envelope signal is greater than an envelope threshold, and if it is determined that the amplitude of the envelope signal is less than the envelope threshold, determine whether to change a rotation direction of the motor by comparing the amplitude of the envelope signal with an envelope reference signal stored in a memory. The memory is connected to the main processor and is configured to store the envelope threshold and the envelope reference signal.

Current state-of-the art ion sources do not meet multiple application needs for pulsed ion beams because current designs limit obtaining the needed peak currents, anode current densities, total currents, time averaged currents and lifetime in the same structure. High surface energy, power loading, material erosion and stresses damage surfaces. Our concepts for a ‘cold’ anode structure and ion source will reduce these erosion and damage issues. By extending lifetime and performance characteristics multiple applications can be enabled with lower maintenance and cost. The concepts here reduce the surface aging and provide the high performance (peak current, high current density and long lifetime required.

Apparatuses and methods for accelerating electrons including an electron source configured to provide a beam of electrons and an accelerator utilize electron cyclotron resonance acceleration (eCRA). The accelerator includes a radio frequency (RF) cavity having a longitudinal axis, one or more inlets, and one or more outlets and an electromagnet substantially surrounding at least a portion of the cavity and configured to produce an axial magnetic field. At least one pair of waveguides couple the cavity to an RF source configured to generate an RF wave. The RF wave is a superposition of two orthogonal TE.sub.111 transverse electric modes excited in quadrature to produce an azimuthally rotating standing-wave mode configured to accelerate the beam of electrons axially entering the cavity with non-linear cyclotron resonance acceleration.