Operation of a Six-Mev Linear Electron Accelerator

The operation of a 6-Mev linear electron accelerator is described. It is of the traveling-wave type, 14 feet in length. A single magnetron is used as a power source, operating at a wavelength of 10.5 cm, with a peak power output of 0.9 megawatt. Electrons are injected at a velocity v=c/2. Approximately 1/20 of the injected electrons reach the target end of the accelerator, with energies falling in a 1-Mev range near 6 Mev. The average current obtained is 0.05 μa. With an electron pulse length of 0.8 μsec and a pulse repetition rate of 60 per sec, this corresponds to a peak current of the order of 1 ma.