Collector failures on 350 MHz, 1.2 MW CW klystrons at the Los Energy Demonstration Accelerator (LEDA)

We are currently operating the front end of the accelerator production of tritium (APT) accelerator, a 7 MeV radio frequency quadrapole (RFQ) using three, 1.2 MW CW klystrons. These klystrons are required and designed to dissipate the full beam power in the collector. The klystrons have less than 1500 operational hours. One collector has failed and all collectors are damaged. This paper will discuss the damage and the difficulties in diagnosing the cause. The collector did not critically fail. Tube operation was still possible and the klystron operated up to 70% of full beam power with excellent vacuum. The indication that finally led us to the collector failure was variable emission. This information will be discussed. A hydrophonic system was implemented to diagnose collector heating. The collectors are designed to allow for mixed-phase cooling and with the hydrophonic test equipment we are able to observe: normal, single-phase cooling, mixed-phase cooling, and a hard boil. These data will be presented. The worst case beam profile from a collector heating standpoint is presented. The paper will also discuss the steps taken to halt the collector damage on the remaining 350 MHz klystrons and design changes that are being implemented to correct the problem.