SGER: To Manufacture Superconducting Accelerator Cavities by Electron-Beam Assisted Physical Vapor Deposition

高能加速器应用中的SRF腔的生产成本非常高，每米44,000美元，然而，这些腔的运营成本降低导致需要研究以新的高效方式生产这些腔的方法。本研究旨在研究电子束辅助PVD技术在钼结构上沉积织构Nb薄膜的过程。对PVD的改进增加了可用于生产更高质量的符合要求的薄膜的添加工艺驱动器。考虑到应用情况，这是一个很有潜力的方案，如果这些SRF腔能够大量生产并降低成本，将会获得优势。这种高风险与生产相对无缺陷的Nb薄膜的不确定性有关，在这种薄膜中，表面缺陷和晶界将非常有害。这项探索性研究将测试在霉变的衬底上制备这些薄膜的可行性，探索与高性能薄膜相关的工艺问题。如果这一原则证明成立，那么将需要进一步的研究来确定高质量胶片生产的最佳条件。PI将包括通过REUS在这个项目上的本科生研究助理。宾夕法尼亚州立大学的分奖将提供必要的材料表征能力，合作将使学生有机会参观/在任一校园进行研究

SRF cavities in high energy accelerator application are very costly to produce, at $44,000 per meter, however the reduced operating costs with these cavities creates the need to investigate means of producing these cavities in new and efficient fashion. This SGER aims to consider the deposition of textured niobium films on molybdenum structures by electron beam assisted PVD. The modification of the PVD adds addition process driver that can be used to produce higher quality conforming thin films. This is a high potential proposal considering the applications, and the advantage that would be gained if these SRF cavities could be produces in quantity and lower cost. The high risk is related to the uncertainty of producing relatively defect-free Nb films, where surface defects and grain boundaries would be extremely deleterious. This exploratory research will test the feasibility of creating these films on the moldy substrates, exploring the processing issues related to high performance thin films. If this proof of principle can be established, then further research will be needed to determine optimization conditions for high quality film producibility. The PIs will include undergraduate research assistants on this program through REUs. A subaward to Penn State will provide the necessary materials characterization capability and the collaboration will give students a chance to visit / conduct research at either campus