New local field quantity describing the high gradient limit of accelerating structures

A new local field quantity is presented which gives the high gradient performance limit of accelerating structures due to vacuum rf breakdown. The new field quantity, a modified Poynting vector Sc, is derived from a model of the breakdown trigger in which field emission currents from potential breakdown sites cause local pulsed heating. The field quantity Sc takes into account both active and reactive power flow on the structure surface. This new quantity has been evaluated for many X-band and 30 GHz rf tests, both traveling wave and standing wave, and the value of Sc achieved in the experiments agrees well with analytical estimates.