Cathode Stalk Cooling System for the MK 1 Quarterwave Gun
Abstract
The free electron laser (FEL) is of great interest to the United States Navy for shipboard use. The Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) Beam Physics Lab has designed and, in cooperation with other organizations, constructed a superconducting 500 MHz quarter-wave gun and photocathode drive laser system. The cathode of the gun is mounted onto a ~60 cm copper stalk assembly that will position and hold the cathode at the nose cone of the gun. This thesis will explore the necessity to cool the cathode stalk assembly that will have approximately 100 W of laser, RF, and radiated heat distributed on it. Based on the operational requirements of the MK I quarter-wave gun, a cooling system was designed to run liquid nitrogen internally through the stalk. Simulations were run on COMSOL to determine the effectiveness of the design, followed by the creation of a test stand to physically assess the cryogenic cooling system. Data was found verifying the applicability of the system. Recommendations are made for future experimentation using the cathode stalk cooling system test stand based on the results of this thesis.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 2012
- Accession Number
- ADA562727
Entities
People
- Amanda B. Baxter
Organizations
- Naval Postgraduate School