A particle accelerator system, including apparatuses and methods, that is
configurable through repositioning of shorting devices therein to operate
at different charged particle beam currents while maintaining optimum
transfer of electromagnetic power from electromagnetic waves to one or
more accelerating sections thereof, and reducing or eliminating
reflections of electromagnetic waves. The particle accelerator system
includes at least two accelerating sections and an electromagnetic drive
subsystem with portions of the electromagnetic drive subsystem being
interposed physically between the accelerating sections, thereby making
the particle accelerator system compact. The electromagnetic drive
subsystem includes, among other components, a 3 dB waveguide hybrid
junction having a coupling window in a narrow wall thereof which is
shared by the junction's rectangular-shaped waveguides. By virtue of the
coupling window being positioned in a narrow wall rather than a wide
wall, the maximal power of the 3 dB waveguide hybrid junction is
increased significantly.