• M. Popovic
  Fermilab, Batavia
• C.M. Ankenbrandt, R.P. Johnson
  Muons, Inc, Batavia

In the last 20 years, superconducting RF (SRF) cavities have been developed to the point that a CW SRF linac is the best candidate driver for subcritical reactors. We discuss how one appropriately designed linac can be used for an accelerator-driven subcritical (ADS) nuclear power station to produce more than 5 GW electrical power in an inherently safe region below criticality. Such a station will generate no greenhouse gases, produce minimal nuclear waste and no byproducts that are useful to rogue nations or terrorists, incinerate waste from conventional nuclear reactors, and efficiently use abundant thorium fuel that does not need enrichment. We describe the Linac parameters that can enable this vision of an almost inexhaustible source of power and we discuss how the corresponding reactor technology can be matched to these parameters.

• M. Popovic, A. Moretti
  Fermilab, Batavia
• A. Dudas, R.P. Johnson, M.L. Neubauer, R. Sah
  Muons, Inc, Batavia

Magnetrons are the lowest cost microwave source in dollars/kW, and they have the highest efficiency (typically greater than 85%). However, the frequency stability and phase stability of magnetrons are not adequate when used as power sources for accelerators. Novel variable frequency cavity techniques have been developed to phase and frequency lock the magnetrons, allowing their use for either individual cavities, or cavity strings. Ferrite or YIG (Yttrium Iron Garnet) materials are placed in the regions of high magnetic field of radial-vaned, π−mode structures of a selected ordinary magnetron. A variable external magnetic field that is orthogonal to the magnetic RF field of the magnetron surrounds the magnetron to vary the permeability of the ferrite or YIG material. Measurements of a prototype magnetron will be described.