High-gradient testing of an $S$-band, normal-conducting low phase velocity accelerating structure

A novel high-gradient accelerating structure with low phase velocity, $v/c=0.38$, has been designed, manufactured and high-power tested. The structure was designed and built using the methodology and technology developed for CLIC $100\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{MV}/\mathrm{m}$ high-gradient accelerating structures, which have speed of light phase velocity, but adapts them to a structure for nonrelativistic particles. The parameters of the structure were optimized for the compact proton therapy linac project, and specifically to 76 MeV energy protons, but the type of structure opens more generally the possibility of compact low phase velocity linacs. The structure operates in S-band, is backward…