A switched linear accelerator for microparticles: design and computer simulated performance data

The principles of a novel type of switched linear accelerator for the generation of micrometer sized electrostatically charged particles at hypervelocities in the laboratory are described. The computer technique has been developed for the electrode design, and is also used to derive the potential distribution during particle acceleration. From this the particle trajectories are calculated under the switched discharge sequence. With the computer studies it has been shown that it is possible to achieve longitudinal and radial stability during acceleration using ten stages at 75 kV without beam confinement-this represents an alternative to Van de Graaff electrostatic accelerators. For 120 stages at 75 kV resulting in a performance of 7.5 MV, it has been shown that it is possible to maintain longitudinal stability, but necessary to introduce periodic beam refocusing to maintain radial stability. In the particular type of beam refocusing investigated, it is shown that it is possible to confine the accelerated beam to a radius of 1.5 cm.