Rebuilding WR-340 and WR-284 waveguide switches to meet higher power at the Advanced Photon Source

The high-power S-band switching system for the Advanced Photon Source (APS) linear accelerator (linac) provides for a hot spare for two of the four S-band transmitters. The system utilizes four-port S-band switches of aluminum construction that are pressurized with sulfur hexafluoride during normal operation and are commercially available. A high-power S-band transmitter test stand at the APS linac has shown that processes that include the hand working and electropolishing of sharp edges internal to the aluminum construction of these switches have measurably improved power handling characteristics.