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P. Dhakal

Publications and source records attributed to P. Dhakal.

15 recordsLinked to original sources
arXiv2024

Role of microstructure on flux expulsion of superconducting radio frequency cavities

The trapped residual magnetic flux during the cool-down due to the incomplete Meissner state is a significant source of radio frequency losses in superconducting radio frequency (SRF) cavities. Here, we show a clear correlation between the niobium microstructure in elliptical cavity geometry and flux expulsion behavior. In particular, a traditionally fabricated Nb cavity half cell from an annealed poly-crystalline Nb sheet after an 800 $^\circ$C heat treatment leads to a bi-modal microstructure that ties in with flux trapping and inefficient flux expulsion. This non-uniform microstructure is related to varying strain profiles along the cavity shape. A novel approach to prevent this non uniform microstructure is presented by fabricating a 1.3 GHz single cell Nb cavity with a cold-worked sheet and subsequent heat treatment leading to better flux expulsion after 800 $^\circ$C/3 h. Microstructural evolution by electron backscattered diffraction-orientation imaging microscopy on cavity cutouts, and flux pinning behavior by dc-magnetization on coupon samples confirms a reduction in flux pinning centers with increased heat treatment temperature. The heat treatment temperature dependent mechanical properties and thermal conductivity are reported. The significant impact of cold-work in this study demonstrates clear evidence for the importance of microstructure required for high-performance superconducting cavities with reduced losses caused by magnetic flux trapping.

physics.acc-ph↗
arXiv2024

Development of a plasma simulation tool for accelerating cavities

Plasma processing of superconducting radio frequency (SRF) cavities has shown an improvement in accelerating gradient by reducing the radiation due to field emission and multipacting. Plasma processing is a common technique where the free oxygen produced by the plasma breaks down and removes hydrocarbons from surfaces. This increases the work function and reduces the secondary emission coefficient. The hydrocarbon fragments of H2, CO, CO2, and H2O are removed from the system with the process gas which is flowing through the system. Here, we present COMSOL for the first time to simulate the plasma processing of an SRF cavity. In this work, we use Jefferson Lab's C75 SRF cavities design as our case study. Using simulation, we predict the condition of plasma ignition inside the SRF cavity. The simulation provides information about the optimal rf coupling to the cavity, mode for plasma ignition, choice of gas concentration, power, and pressure.

physics.plasm-ph↗
arXiv2024

Field, frequency and temperature dependence of the surface resistance of nitrogen diffused niobium superconducting radio frequency cavities

We report the RF performance of several single-cell superconducting radio-frequency cavities subjected to low temperature heat treatment in nitrogen environment. The cavities were treated at temperature 120 - 165 $^{\circ}$C for an extended period of time (24 - 48 hours) either in high vacuum or in a low partial pressure of ultra-pure nitrogen. The improvement in $Q_0$ with a Q-rise was observed when nitrogen gas was injected at $\sim$300 $^{\circ} $C during the cavity cooldown from 800 $^{\circ}$C and held at 165 $^{\circ}$C, without any degradation in accelerating gradient over the baseline performance. The treatment was applied to several elliptical cavities with frequency ranging from 0.75 GHz to 3.0 GHz, showing an improved quality factor as a result of low temperature nitrogen treatments. The Q-rise feature is similar to that achieved by nitrogen alloying Nb cavities at higher temperature, followed by material removal by electropolishing. The surface modification was confirmed by the change in electronic mean free path and tuned with the temperature and duration of heat treatment. The decrease of the temperature-dependent surface resistance with increasing RF field, resulting in a Q-rise, becomes stronger with increasing frequency and decreasing temperature. The data suggest a crossover frequency of $\sim 0.95$~GHz above which the Q-rise phenomenon occurs at 2~K. Some of these results can be explained qualitatively with an existing model of intrinsic field-dependence of the surface resistance with both equilibrium and nonequilibrium quasiparticle distribution functions. The change in the Q-slope below 0.95 GHz may result from masking contribution of trapped magnetic flux to the residual surface resistance.

cond-mat.supr-con↗
arXiv2023

Temperature, RF Field, and Frequency Dependence Performance Evaluation of Superconducting Niobium Half-Wave Cavity

Recent advancement in superconducting radio frequency cavity processing techniques, with diffusion of impurities within the RF penetration depth, resulted in high quality factor with increase in quality factor with increasing accelerating gradient. The increase in quality factor is the result of a decrease in the surface resistance as a result of nonmagnetic impurities doping and change in electronic density of states. The fundamental understanding of the dependence of surface resistance on frequency and surface preparation is still an active area of research. Here, we present the result of RF measurements of the TEM modes in a coaxial half wave niobium cavity resonating at frequencies between 0.3-1.3 GHz. The temperature dependence of the surface resistance was measured between 4.2 K and 1.6 K. The field dependence of the surface resistance was measured at 2.0 K. The baseline measurements were made after standard surface preparation by buffered chemical polishing.

cond-mat.supr-con↗
arXiv2023

Evaluation of flux expulsion and flux trapping sensitivity of srf cavities fabricated from cold work Nb sheet with successive heat treatment

The main source of RF losses leading to lower quality factor of superconducting radio-frequency cavities is due to the residual magnetic flux trapped during cool-down. The loss due to flux trapping is more pronounced for cavities subjected to impurities doping. The flux trapping and its sensitivity to rf losses are related to several intrinsic and extrinsic phenomena. To elucidate the effect of re-crystallization by high temperature heat treatment on the flux trapping sensitivity, we have fabricated two 1.3 GHz single cell cavities from cold-worked Nb sheets and compared with cavities made from standard fine-grain Nb. Flux expulsion ratio and flux trapping sensitivity were measured after successive high temperature heat treatments. The cavity made from cold worked Nb showed better flux expulsion after 800 C/3h heat treatments and similar behavior when heat treated with additional 900 C/3h and 1000 C/3h. In this contribution, we present the summary of flux expulsion, trapping sensitivity, and RF results.

physics.acc-ph↗
arXiv2023

Quench Detection in a Superconducting Radio Frequency Cavity with Combine Temperature and Magnetic Field Mapping

Local dissipation of RF power in superconducting radio frequency cavities create so called hot spots, primary precursors of cavity quench driven by either thermal or magnetic instability. These hot spots are detected by a temperature mapping system, and a large increase in temperature on the outer surface is detected during cavity quench events. Here, we have used combined magnetic and temperature mapping systems using anisotropic magnetoresistance (AMR) sensors and carbon resisters to locate the hot spots and areas with high trapped flux on a 3.0 GHz single-cell Nb cavity during the RF tests at 2.0 K. The quench location and hot spots were detected near the equator when the residual magnetic field in the Dewar is kept < 1 mG. The hot spots and quench locations moved when the magnetic field is trapped locally, as detected by T-mapping system. No significant dynamics of trapped flux is detected by AMR sensors, however, change in magnetic flux during cavity quench is detected by a flux gate magnetometer, close to the quench location. The result provides the direct evidence of hot spots and quench events due to localized trapped vortices.

cond-mat.supr-con↗
arXiv2023

Simulation of the dynamics of gas mixtures during plasma processing in the C75 Cavity

Plasma processing using a mixture of noble gas and oxygen is a technique that is currently being used to reduce field emission and multipacting in accelerating cavities. Plasma is created inside the cavity when the gas mixture is exposed to an electromagnetic field that is generated by applying RF power through the fundamental power or higher-order mode couplers. Oxygen ions and atomic oxygen are created in the plasma which breaks down the hydrocarbons on the surface of the cavity and the residuals from this process are removed as part of the process gas flow. Removal of hydrocarbons from the surface increases the work function and reduces the secondary emission coefficient. This work describes the initial results of plasma simulation, which provides insight into the ignition process, distribution of different species, and interactions of free oxygen and oxygen ions with the cavity surfaces. The simulations have been done with an Ar/O2 plasma using COMSOL multiphysics. These simulations help in understanding the dynamics and control of plasma inside the cavity and the exploration of different gas mixtures.

physics.plasm-ph↗
arXiv2023

Development of a prototype superconducting radio-frequency cavity for conduction-cooled accelerators

The higher efficiency of superconducting radio-frequency (SRF) cavities compared to normal-conducting ones enables the development of high-energy continuous-wave linear accelerators (linacs). Recent progress in the development of high-quality Nb$_3$Sn film coatings along with the availability of cryocoolers with high cooling capacity at 4 K makes it feasible to operate SRF cavities cooled by thermal conduction at relevant accelerating gradients for use in accelerators. A possible use of conduction-cooled SRF linacs is for environmental applications, requiring electron beams with energy of $1 - 10$ MeV and 1 MW of power. We have designed a 915 MHz SRF linac for such an application and developed a prototype single-cell cavity to prove the proposed design by operating it with cryocoolers at the accelerating gradient required for 1 MeV energy gain. The cavity has a $\sim 3$ $\mu$m thick Nb$_3$Sn film on the inner surface, deposited on a $\sim4$ mm thick bulk Nb substrate and a bulk $\sim7$ mm thick Cu outer shell with three Cu attachment tabs. The cavity was tested up to a peak surface magnetic field of 53 mT in liquid He at 4.3 K. A horizontal test cryostat was designed and built to test the cavity cooled with three Gifford-McMahon cryocoolers. The rf tests of the conduction-cooled cavity, performed at General Atomics, achieved a peak surface magnetic field of 50 mT and stable operation was possible with up to 18.5 W of rf heat load. The peak frequency shift due to microphonics was 23 Hz. These results represent the highest peak surface magnetic field achieved in a conduction-cooled SRF cavity to date and meet the requirements for a 1 MeV energy gain.

physics.acc-ph↗
arXiv2022

Medium-Grain Niobium SRF Cavity Production Technology for Science Frontiers and Accelerator Applications

We propose cost-effective production of medium grain (MG) niobium (Nb) discs directly sliced from forged and annealed billet. This production method provides clean surface conditions and reliable mechanical characteristics with sub-millimeter average grain size resulting in stable SRF cavity production. We propose to apply this material to particle accelerator applications in the science and industrial frontiers. The science applications require high field gradients (>~40 MV/m) particularly in pulse mode. The industrial applications require high Q0 values with moderate gradients (~30 MV/m) in CW mode operation. This report describes the MG Nb disc production recently demonstrated and discusses future prospects for application in advanced particle accelerators in the science and industrial frontiers.

physics.acc-ph↗
arXiv2014

Reply to "Comment on the 'Decrease of the surface resistance in superconducting niobium resonator cavities by the microwave field'"

In a recent comment [arXiv:1405.2978v1 (2014)] Romanenko and Grassellino made unsubstantiated statements about our work [Appl. Phys. Lett. 104, 092601 (2014)] and ascribed to us wrong points which we had not made. Here we show that the claims of Romanenko and Grassellino are based on misinterpretation of our Letter and inadequate data analysis in their earlier work [*]. [*] A. Romanenko and A. Grassellino, Appl. Phys. Lett. 102, 252603 (2013)

physics.acc-ph↗
arXiv2013

The Rise of Ingot Niobium as a Material for Superconducting Radiofrequency Accelerating Cavities

As a result of a collaboration between Jefferson Lab and niobium manufacturer CBMM, ingot niobium was explored as a possible material for superconducting radiofrequency (SRF) cavity fabrication. The first single cell cavity from large grain high purity niobium was fabricated and successfully tested at Jefferson Lab in 2004. This pioneering work triggered research activities in other SRF laboratories around the world. Large grain niobium became not only an interesting alternative material for cavity builders, but also material scientists and surface scientists were eager to participate in the development of this material. Most of the original expectations for this material of being less costly and allowing less expensive fabrication and treatment procedures at the same performance levels in cavities have been met. Many single cell cavities made from material of different suppliers have been tested successfully and several multi-cell cavities have shown the performances comparable to the best cavities made from standard poly-crystalline niobium. Several 9-cell cavities fabricated by Research Instruments and tested at DESY exceeded the best performing fine grain cavities with a record accelerating gradient of Eacc = 45.6 MV/m. Recently- at JLab- by using a new furnace treatment procedure a single cell cavity made of ingot niobium performed at a remarkably high Q0-value (~5x10^10) at an accelerating gradient of ~20 MV/m, at 2K. Such performance levels push the state-of-the art of SRF technology to new limits and are of great interest for future accelerators. This contribution reviews the development of ingot niobium technology and attempts to make a case for this material being the choice for future accelerators.

physics.acc-ph↗
arXiv2013

Effect of high temperature heat treatments on the quality factor of a large-grain superconducting radio-frequency niobium cavity

Large-grain Nb has become a viable alternative to fine-grain Nb for the fabrication of superconducting radio-frequency cavities. In this contribution we report the results from a heat treatment study of a large-grain 1.5 GHz single-cell cavity made of "medium purity" Nb. The baseline surface preparation prior to heat treatment consisted of standard buffered chemical polishing. The heat treatment in the range 800 - 1400 C was done in a newly designed vacuum induction furnace. Q0 values of the order of 2x1010 at 2.0 K and peak surface magnetic field (Bp) of 90 mT were achieved reproducibly. A Q0-value of (5+-1)1010 at 2.0 K and Bp = 90 mT was obtained after heat treatment at 1400 C. This is the highest value ever reported at this temperature, frequency and field. Samples heat treated with the cavity at 1400 C were analyzed by secondary ion mass spectrometry, secondary electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray, point contact tunneling and X-ray diffraction and revealed a complex surface composition which includes titanium oxide, increased carbon and nitrogen content but reduced hydrogen concentration compared to a non heat-treated sample.

cond-mat.supr-con↗
arXiv2010

Spin and charge dynamics in [TbPc$_2$]$^0$ and [DyPc$_2$]$^0$ single molecule magnets

Magnetization, AC susceptibility and $μ$SR measurements have been performed in neutral phthalocyaninato lanthanide ([LnPc$_2]^0$) single molecule magnets in order to determine the low-energy levels structure and to compare the low-frequency spin excitations probed by means of macroscopic techniques, such as AC susceptibility, with the ones explored by means of techniques of microscopic character, such as $μ$SR. Both techniques show a high temperature thermally activated regime for the spin dynamics and a low temperature tunneling one. While in the activated regime the correlation times for the spin fluctuations estimated by AC susceptibility and $μ$SR basically agree, clear discrepancies are found in the tunneling regime. In particular, $μ$SR probes a faster dynamics with respect to AC susceptibility. It is argued that the tunneling dynamics probed by $μ$SR involves fluctuations which do not yield a net change in the macroscopic magnetization probed by AC susceptibiliy. Finally resistivity measurements in [TbPc$_2]^0$ crystals show a high temperature nearly metallic behaviour and a low temperature activated behaviour.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗