Thales has developed an innovative multi-beam klystron that can be pressurised without the greenhouse gas SF6.
In 2010, Thales developed the TH 1802 multi-beam klystron. The new klystrons were delivered to Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron (DESY), the largest research centre in Germany for particle physics. It is intended for a new particle accelerator, the XFEL. Compared to the single-beam operation of most tubes, the multi-beam model has a tube barrel that includes seven cathodes, enabling it to operate at very low voltages – which means a simpler power supply. And unlike other klystrons, the TH 1802 uses air-pressurized outlet waveguides to sustain its power levels instead of SF6 (*) , a greenhouse gas. DESY has asked Thales to develop a vertical model with the same innovative and environmentally-responsible technology.
* 1kg of SF6 emits 24t of CO2 equivalent