Studies of Breakdown in High Gradient X-Band Accelerator Structures Using Acoustic Emission

X-band accelerator structures meeting the Next Linear Collider (NLC) design requirements have been found to suffer damage due to RF breakdown when processed to high gradients. Improved understanding of these breakdown events is desirable for the development of structure designs, fabrication procedures, and processing techniques that minimize structure damage [1]. Acoustic emission sensors attached to an accelerator structure can detect both nominal and breakdown RF pulses [2]. Using an array of acoustic sensors, we have been able to pinpoint both the cell and azimuth location of individual breakdown events. This allows studies of breakdown time and position sequences so that underlying causes can be determined. The technique provided a significant advance in studies of breakdown in the structure input coupler. In this paper we present acoustic emission sensor data and analysis from the breakdown studies in several x-band accelerator structures.