Variable radiofrequency power source for an accelerator guide

1. An apparatus for use with an accelerator, comprising:

a circulator having a first port, a second port, a third port, and a fourth port, wherein the first port is configured to couple to a power generator, and the third port is configured to couple to an accelerator;

a first phase shifter coupled to the second port; and

a second phase shifter coupled to the fourth port.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a short circuit connected to the first phase shifter.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the short circuit comprises a fixed short circuit.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first phase shifter is mechanically operated.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first phase shifter is electromagnetically operated.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first phase shifter provides phase control in response to a varying magnetic field.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a tee having a first arm, a second arm, and a third arm, wherein the first arm of the tee is coupled to the second port of the circulator, and the third arm of the tee is coupled to the first phase shifter.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the second arm of the tee is coupled to a load.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a shunt reactance element coupled to the second phase shifter.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 , further comprising a load coupled to the second phase shifter.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a tee having a first arm, a second arm, and a third arm, wherein the first arm is coupled to the second phase shifter, and the second arm is coupled to a load.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 , further comprising a third phase shifter coupled to the third arm of the tee.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 , further comprising a short circuit coupled to the third phase shifter.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the short circuit comprises a fixed short circuit.

15. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising the power generator.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the power generator comprises a standing wave power generator.

17. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the power generator comprises a magnetron.

18. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first phase shifter is configured for adjusting a relative phase of radiofrequency power between the first and the third ports.

19. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein power delivered to the third port varies between a first power level and a second power level.

20. An apparatus for use with an accelerator, comprising:

a circulator having a first port, a second port, a third port, and a fourth port, wherein the first port is configured to couple to a power generator, and the third port is configured to couple to an accelerator;

a first phase shifter coupled to the fourth port;

a tee coupled to the first phase shifter; and

a second phase shifter coupled to the tee.

21. The apparatus of claim 20 , wherein the tee comprises a first arm, a second arm, and a third arm, the first phase shifter is coupled to the first arm of the tee, and the second phase shifter is coupled to the third arm of the tee.

22. The apparatus of claim 21 , further comprising a load coupled to the second arm of the tee.

23. The apparatus of claim 22 , further comprising a short circuit coupled to the second phase shifter.

24. The apparatus of claim 20 , wherein the second phase shifter is electromagnetically operated.

25. The apparatus of claim 20 , wherein the fourth port is along a path in which a reflected power is delivered from the third port to the first port.

26. The apparatus of claim 20 , wherein the second port is along a path in which a generated power is delivered from the first port to the third port.

27. A method of regulating radiofrequency power to and from an accelerator, comprising:

providing power using a power generator;

varying a magnitude of the power before the power is delivered to the accelerator;

receiving a reflected power from the accelerator; and

varying the phase of the reflected power from the accelerator.

28. The method of claim 27 , further comprising varying a magnitude of the reflected power.

29. The method of claim 27 , wherein the magnitude of the power is varied at a time interval that is a value between 2 milliseconds to 20 milliseconds.

30. The method of claim 27 , wherein the reflected power is received at the generator.

31. The method of claim 27 , wherein the act of varying the phase of the reflected power from the accelerator comprises changing a relative phase of radiofrequency between the accelerator and the power generator.

32. A method of regulating reflected power from an accelerator, comprising:

receiving a reflected power from an accelerator;

varying the phase of the reflected power; and

varying a magnitude of the reflected power.

33. The method of claim 32 , wherein the phase is varied using a first phase shifter.

34. The method of claim 33 , wherein the magnitude is varied using a second phase shifter and a load.

35. The method of claim 32 , further comprising delivering the reflected power to a power generator after the phase and magnitude are varied.

36. The method of claim 35 , wherein the power generator comprises a standing wave power generator.

37. The method of claim 32 , wherein the reflected power is received at a power generator.

38. The method of claim 32 , wherein the act of varying the phase of the reflected power comprises changing a relative phase of radiofrequency between the accelerator and a power generator.