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arXiv · 2504.18823

Study of the UHV compatibility of selected ferritic stainless steels for application in vacuum systems of future gravitational wave detectors

Carlo Scarcia·Giuseppe Bregliozzi·Paolo Chiggiato·Ivo Wevers
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Abstract

Next-generation gravitational wave detectors (GWDs) such as the Cosmic Explorer and Einstein Telescope demand extensive ultra-high vacuum systems, making material cost and performance critical considerations. This study investigates the potential of ferritic stainless steel as a cost-effective alternative to the commonly used austenitic stainless steel for UHV components, focusing on the analysis of outgassing rates pre and post-bakeout at 80{\deg}C and 150{\deg}C for 48 hours. The tested ferritic stainless steels exhibit significantly lower hydrogen content than standard AISI 304L steel. After bakeout, the hydrogen outgassing rates - measured down to 10$^{-15}$ mbar l s$^{-1}$ cm$^{-2}$ - are three orders of magnitude lower than those of similarly conditioned austenitic stainless steels. These results highlight ferritic stainless steel as a promising, economical, and high-performance candidate for future GWDs vacuum systems.

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Carlo Scarcia, Giuseppe Bregliozzi, Paolo Chiggiato, Ivo Wevers. 2025-04-26. Study of the UHV compatibility of selected ferritic stainless steels for application in vacuum systems of future gravitational wave detectors. https://arxiv.org/abs/2504.18823

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