arXiv subjects

Walter Wuensch

Publications and source records attributed to Walter Wuensch.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

The VORTEX cavity for the RADES axion haloscope

One of the major challenges in axion dark matter haloscope searches is a loss-less tuning mechanism that is able to cover a significant frequency range around the haloscope's central frequency. In this article, we report on the implementation and performance of an axion haloscope dubbed Vertical-cut Optimised Resonant Tunable cavity for dark matter EXploration (VORTEX) centred at $8.5$ GHz with a tuning range of around $800$ MHz. The performance of this setup is measured at temperatures in the mK range and compared to simulation. In addition, we test the cavity-mode structure of this cavity type directly via the `bead-pull method' and observe satisfactory agreement with expectations. The arrangement is poised to be used in an upcoming RADES (Relic Axion Detection Exploratory Setup) data-taking campaign employing a $12$ T solenoid magnet.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2026

Direct large-area observation of subsurface plastic activity in conditioned copper electrodes

High-field conditioning is the process by which radio-frequency structures in particle accelerators and other high-gradient devices reach their operating fields, yet the underlying physical mechanism remains an open question. Models and indirect measurements point to subsurface dislocation dynamics, but large-area structural measurements have been missing. We present electron backscatter diffraction measurements spanning millimeter-scale regions on a copper cathode conditioned at pulsed direct-current fields up to $\sim$80~MV/m in a sloped-anode geometry, which imposes a known gradient of field exposure across a single electrode. Across nine regions of interest spanning this exposure range, the mean intragrain misorientation of field-exposed regions exceeds that of unexposed references by $\sim$75\%; the difference is reproduced by three independent misorientation metrics and confirmed by Kolmogorov--Smirnov tests. To our knowledge, this is the first large-area observation of structural differences between conditioned and unconditioned regions of a high-field electrode. The misorientation separates into three tiers (high-field center and edge, low-field periphery, and unexposed reference) that match the spatial profile of the conditioning-state variable $E_S$ predicted by Monte Carlo simulations. These observations point to the evolving subsurface dislocation population as a candidate physical basis of conditioning.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2026

Role of the Local Electric-Field in High-Field Conditioning of DC Electrodes:Numerical and Experimental Insights

Conditioning, the progressive increase of voltage-holding through the controlled application of fields, is an important and widely used process for bringing high-field and high-voltage devices up to their full operating parameters. Here, a study is presented on how conditioning can vary within a device, specifically, when there is a spatial variation in the surface electric field. What has been observed in high-field pulsed direct-current electrodes and radio-frequency structures is that locations exposed to higher fields exhibit a greater tendency to breakdown, but this increase is counteracted by an increased conditioning rate. This interplay explains the observed breakdown locations and provides important insights into the mechanisms underlying both conditioning and breakdown. This study combines Monte Carlo simulations with experimental results from pairs of high-field electrodes with a radially varying surface electric field. Results are presented from a high-field pulsed DC system, in which the position of each breakdown during conditioning was recorded by triangulation using a pair of cameras, and the results are compared with Monte Carlo simulations.

physics.acc-ph↗

arXiv2026

Non-Linear Dynamics Induced by Strong Radio-Frequency Fields in ReBCO High Temperature Superconductors

Probing the dynamics of superconducting transitions induced by strong electromagnetic fields is vital to designing high power devices leveraging these materials. The development of high temperature superconductors (HTS) is particularly interesting due to critical temperatures ($T_c$) approaching 90\,K, the ability to support high current densities, and their ability to operate in strong static magnetic fields. This work aims to determine the transition dynamics of these materials at radio-frequencies (rf) in the microwave range where they have enormous potential for new applications ranging from particle accelerators to dark matter searches. We have tested two types of coatings formed from rare earth barium copper oxide (REBCO): a film deposited by electron-beam physical vapor deposition, and HTS conductor tapes soldered to a copper substrate with exposed REBCO surfaces. Testing was performed via a hemispherical transverse-electric mode cavity that maximizes the surface rf magnetic field and minimizes the surface electric field on a 2-inch diameter sample. We report on steady-state measurements at low rf power, as well as fully time-resolved transition dynamics on the microsecond timescale seen for the first time with strong surface rf fields.

physics.acc-ph↗

arXiv2026

Controlling the Transverse Multipole Components in RF Cavity Modes using the Azimuthal Modulation Method

Recent work introduced a systematic method for designing so-called azimuthally modulated RF cavities that support transverse magnetic modes composed of user-desired multipoles, enabling precision control of the magnitude and orientation of multipolar components in RF cavity design. This paper extends this method to practical implementation by deriving the multipolar expansion of the longitudinal electric field in such RF cavities with beam pipes, as well as the momentum change of ultra-relativistic particles traversing these modes. The derived equations explicitly show the radial variation of the change in longitudinal and transverse momentum follows a polynomial rather than Bessel-function relationship. The expression for the longitudinal electric field is then compared to a field map obtained from the 3D electromagnetic simulation of an azimuthally modulated cavity designed to support a mode composed of monopole, dipole, and quadrupole components. Beam dynamics studies are presented to assess the derived expressions for the change in momentum, including the effects of relaxing the ultra-relativistic assumption. Finally, two example applications are presented: the first demonstrates the removal of unwanted transverse multipoles to create a multipole-free accelerating structure with a single-port coupler, whereas the second illustrates the synthesis of desired multipoles to create an RF cavity that transforms the transverse distribution of a beam from Gaussian to uniform.

physics.acc-ph↗

arXiv2025

Fundamentals of Vacuum Breakdown in High-Field Systems

This review consolidates experimental, theoretical, and simulation work examining the behavior of high-field devices and the fundamental process of vacuum arc initiation, commonly referred to as breakdown. Detailed experimental observations and results relating to a wide range of aspects of high-field devices, including conditioning, field and temperature dependence of breakdown rate, and the ability to sustain high electric fields as a function of device geometry and materials, are presented. The different observations are then addressed theoretically, and with simulation, capturing the sequence of processes that lead to vacuum breakdown and explaining the major observed experimental dependencies. The core of the work described in this review was carried out by a broad multi-disciplinary collaboration in an over a decade-long program to develop high-gradient, 100 MV/m-range, accelerating structures for the CLIC project, a possible future linear-collider high-energy physics facility. Connections are made to the broader linear collider, high-field, and breakdown communities.

physics.app-ph↗

arXiv2025

Physics Briefing Book: Input for the 2026 update of the European Strategy for Particle Physics

The European Strategy for Particle Physics (ESPP) reflects the vision and presents concrete plans of the European particle physics community for advancing human knowledge in fundamental physics. The ESPP is updated every five-to-six years through a community-driven process. It commences with the submission of specific proposals and other input from the community at large, outlining projects envisioned for the near-, mid-, and long-term future. All submitted contributions are evaluated by the Physics Preparatory Group (PPG), and a preliminary analysis is presented at a Symposium meant to foster a broad community discussion on the scientific value and feasibility of the various ideas proposed. The outcomes of the analysis and the deliberations at the Symposium are synthesized in the current Briefing Book, which provides an important input in the deliberations of the Strategy recommendations by the European Strategy Group (ESG).

hep-ex↗

arXiv2025

The Compact Linear e$^+$e$^-$ Collider (CLIC)

The Compact Linear Collider (CLIC) is a TeV-scale high-luminosity linear e$^+$e$^-$ collider studied by the international CLIC and CLICdp collaborations. CLIC uses a two-beam acceleration scheme, in which normal-conducting high-gradient 12 GHz accelerating structures are powered via a high-current drive beam. CLIC is foreseen to be built and operated in stages. The initial 380 GeV stage, with a site length of 11 km, optimally combines the exploration of Higgs and top-quark physics, including a top threshold scan near 350 GeV. A higher-energy stage, still using the initial single drive-beam complex, can be optimised for any energy up to 2 TeV. Parameters are presented in detail for a 1.5 TeV stage, with a site length of 29 km. Since the 2018 ESPPU reporting, significant effort was invested in CLIC accelerator optimisation, technology developments and system tests, including collaboration with new-generation light sources and free-electron lasers. CLIC implementation aspects at CERN have covered detailed studies of civil engineering, electrical networks, cooling and ventilation, scheduling, and costing. The CLIC baseline at 380 GeV is now 100 Hz operation, with a luminosity of 4.5$\times 10^{34}$ cm$^{-2}$s$^{-1}$ and a power consumption of 166 MW. Compared to the 2018 design, this gives three times higher luminosity-per-power. The new baseline has two beam-delivery systems, allowing for two detectors operating in parallel. The cost estimate of the 380 GeV baseline is approximately 7.2 billion CHF. The construction of the first CLIC energy stage could start as early as ~2034/35 with first beams following a decade later. This report summarises the CLIC project, its implementation and running scenarios, with emphasis on new developments and recent progress. It concludes with an update on the CLIC detector studies and on the physics potential in light of the improved accelerator performance.

physics.acc-ph↗

arXiv2025

Performance of High-Intensity Electron Linacs as Drivers for Compact Neutron Sources

The demand for neutron production facilities is increasing, as the applications of neutron science are manifold. These applications drive the need for efficient and compact neutron sources. In this context, this paper explores the potential performance of normal-conducting compact electron linacs from 20 MeV to 500 MeV as drivers for neutron sources. Results from a G4BEAMLINE simulation study find optimum dimensions of a tungsten target and characterize the emitted neutron spectrum. Two electron linac are then evaluated as drivers of such target: HPCI, an X-band linac; and CTF3 drive beam linac, an S-band alternative. The simulation study shows neutron strength values up to $1.5\cdot 10^{15}$ n/s can be attained, as well as low energy consumed per neutron produced values up to $5.65 \cdot 10^{-10}$ J/n, suggesting these electron-based neutron sources may be a compact and energy-efficient solution for many research, industry and medical applications.

physics.acc-ph↗

arXiv2025

Surface and sub-surface modifications of copper electrodes exposed to high-field conditioning at cryogenic temperatures

In order to investigate the dependence of conditioning and field-holding on temperature, three pairs of copper electrodes underwent high voltage conditioning with direct current (DC) pulses while kept at a single temperature, unique for each set (300~K, 30~K and 10~K), until saturation field for each set was found. The sets conditioned at cold showed a significant increase in the field holding capability, reaching fields up to 147 MV/m after tens of millions of pulses and very few breakdowns (BDs). We interpret this as an indication of the conditioning effect being due to high field pulsing rather than exposure to BDs. The effect of the warm and cold conditioning was investigated with high-resolution microscopy, characterizing the BD spots on the anode and cathode according to their morphology and with scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) analyzing the changes in the sub-surface regions. Atypical BD spot features were found on the cryogenically conditioned cathode surfaces, with very shallow craters of a star-like shape. The number of atypical spots increased with decreased temperatures, reaching 26 and 53 percent of the total number of spots at 30~K and 10~K, respectively. A hypothesis explaining the formation of these features is also presented. The very different morphology of the anode and cathode BD spots is presented in detail that suggesting an unknown shielding mechanism that prevents the center of the anode spot from melting. These results provide important experimental input for the development of quantitative theories and models for BD initiation and inter-electrode plasma formation.

physics.acc-ph↗

arXiv2025

Split-cavity tuning of a rectangular axion haloscope operating around 8.4 GHz

The axion haloscope is the currently most sensitive method to probe the vanishingly small coupling of this prominent Dark Matter candidate to photons. To scan a sizeable axion Dark Matter parameter space, the cavities that make up the haloscope need to be tuned efficiently. In this article, we describe a novel technique to tune axion haloscopes around $8.4$~GHz in a purely mechanical manner without the use of dielectrics. We achieve tuning by introducing a gap along the cavity geometry. A quality factor reduction of less than 20\% is achieved experimentally for a tuning range of around 600~MHz at room temperature and at cryogenic temperatures for around 300~MHz. A larger tuning range would require an improved alignments mechanism. We present the results of a corresponding prototype and outline prospects to further develop this technique.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2022

Explainable Machine Learning for Breakdown Prediction in High Gradient RF Cavities

The occurrence of vacuum arcs or radio frequency (rf) breakdowns is one of the most prevalent factors limiting the high-gradient performance of normal conducting rf cavities in particle accelerators. In this paper, we search for the existence of previously unrecognized features related to the incidence of rf breakdowns by applying a machine learning strategy to high-gradient cavity data from CERN's test stand for the Compact Linear Collider (CLIC). By interpreting the parameters of the learned models with explainable artificial intelligence (AI), we reverse-engineer physical properties for deriving fast, reliable, and simple rule-based models. Based on 6 months of historical data and dedicated experiments, our models show fractions of data with a high influence on the occurrence of breakdowns. Specifically, it is shown that the field emitted current following an initial breakdown is closely related to the probability of another breakdown occurring shortly thereafter. Results also indicate that the cavity pressure should be monitored with increased temporal resolution in future experiments, to further explore the vacuum activity associated with breakdowns.

physics.acc-ph↗

arXiv2022

Local power coupling as a predictor of high-gradient breakdown performance

A novel quantity for predicting the high-gradient performance of radio frequency accelerating structures is presented. The quantity is motivated, derived and compared with earlier high-gradient limits and experiments. This new method models a nascent RF breakdown as a current-carrying antenna and calculates the coupling of the antenna to an RF power source. With the help of an electron emission model to describe a nascent breakdown, the antenna model describes how a breakdown modifies the local surface electric field before it fully develops in any given structure geometry. For the structure geometries that this method was applied to, it was found that the calculated breakdown-loaded electric field was well-correlated with observed spatial breakdown distributions, and gave consistent values for the maximum breakdown-limited accelerating gradient between different geometries.

physics.acc-ph↗

arXiv2022

Comparative study of H accumulation in differently oriented grains of Cu

When metal surfaces are exposed to hydrogen ion irradiation, the light ions are expected to penetrate deep into the material and dissolve in the matrix. However, these atoms are seen to cause significant modification of surfaces, indicating that they accumulate in vicinity of the surface. The process known as blistering may reduces the vacuum dielectric strength above the metal surface, which shows a dense population of surface blisters. In this paper, we investigate how a bubble can grow under the pressure exerted by hydrogen atoms on the walls of the bubble and how this affect to the surface of Cu, whether an external electric field is applied or not.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2020

Effect of dc voltage pulsing on high-vacuum electrical breakdowns near Cu surfaces

Vacuum electrical breakdowns, also known as vacuum arcs, are a limiting factor in many devices that are based on application of high electric fields near their component surfaces. Understanding of processes that lead to breakdown events may help mitigating their appearance and suggest ways for improving operational efficiency of power-consuming devices. Stability of surface performance at a given value of the electric field is affected by the conditioning state, i.e. how long the surface was exposed to this field. Hence, optimization of the surface conditioning procedure can significantly speed up the preparatory steps for high-voltage applications. In this article, we use pulsed dc systems to optimize the surface conditioning procedure of copper electrodes, focusing on the effects of voltage recovery after breakdowns, variable repetition rates as well as long waiting times between pulsing runs. Despite the differences in the experimental scales, ranging from $10^{-4}$ s between pulses, up to pulsing breaks of $10^5$ s, the experiments show that the longer the idle time between the pulses, the more probable it is that the next pulse produces a breakdown. We also notice that secondary breakdowns, i.e. those which correlate with the previous ones, take place mainly during the voltage recovery stage. We link these events with deposition of residual atoms from vacuum on the electrode surfaces. Minimizing the number of pauses during the voltage recovery stage reduces power losses due to secondary breakdown events improving efficiency of the surface conditioning.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2020

Classification of vacuum arc breakdowns in a pulsed DC system

Understanding the microscopic phenomena behind vacuum arc ignition and generation is crucial for being able to control the breakdown rate, thus improving the effectiveness of many high-voltage applications where frequent breakdowns limit the operation. In this work, statistical properties of various aspects of breakdown, such as the number of pulses between breakdowns, breakdown locations and crater sizes are studied independently with almost identical Pulsed DC Systems at the University of Helsinki and in CERN. In high-gradient experiments, copper electrodes with parallel plate capacitor geometry, undergo thousands of breakdowns. The results support the classification of the events into primary and secondary breakdowns, based on the distance and number of pulses between two breakdowns. Primary events follow a power law on the log--log scale with the slope $α\approx 1.33$, while the secondaries are highly dependent on the pulsing parameters.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2019

Vacuum electrical breakdown conditioning study in a parallel plate electrode pulsed DC system

Conditioning of a metal structure in a high-voltage system is the progressive development of resistance to vacuum arcing over the operational life of the system. This is, for instance, seen during the initial operation of radio frequency (rf) cavities in particle accelerators. It is a relevant topic for any technology where breakdown limits performance, and where conditioning continues for a significant duration of system runtime. Projected future linear accelerators require structures with accelerating gradients of up to 100 MV/m. Currently, this performance level is only achievable after a multi-month conditioning period. In this work, a pulsed DC system applying voltage pulses over parallel disk electrodes was used to study the conditioning process, with the objective of obtaining insight into its underlying mechanics, and ultimately, to find ways to shorten the conditioning process. Two kinds of copper electrodes were tested: As-prepared machine-turned electrodes ("hard" copper), and electrodes that additionally had been subjected to high temperature treatments ("soft" copper). The conditioning behaviour of the soft electrodes was found to be similar to that of comparably treated accelerating structures, indicating a similar conditioning process. The hard electrodes reached the same ultimate performance as the soft electrodes much faster, with a difference of more than an order of magnitude in the number of applied voltage pulses. Two distinctly different distributions of breakdown locations were observed on the two types of electrodes. Considered together, our results support the crystal structure dislocation theory of breakdown, and suggest that the conditioning of copper in high field systems such as rf accelerating structures is dominated by material hardening.

physics.app-ph↗

arXiv2018

Axion Searches with Microwave Filters: the RADES project

We propose, design and construct a variant of the conventional axion haloscope concept that could be competitive in the search for dark matter axions of masses in the decade 10-100 $μ$eV. Theses masses are located somewhat above the mass range in which existing experiments have reached sensitivity to benchmark QCD axion models. Our haloscope consists of an array of small microwave cavities connected by rectangular irises, in an arrangement commonly used in radio-frequency filters. The size of the unit cavity determines the main resonant frequency, while the possibility to connect a {large} number of cavities allows to reach large detection volumes. We develop the theoretical framework of the detection concept, and present design prescriptions to optimize detection capabilities. We describe the design and realization of a first small-scale prototype of this concept, called Relic Axion Detector Exploratory Setup (RADES). It consists of a copper-coated stainless steel five-cavities microwave filter with the detecting mode operating at around 8.4 GHz. This structure has been electromagnetically characterized at 2 K and 298 K, and it is now placed in ultra-high vacuum in one of the twin-bores of the 9 T CAST dipole magnet at CERN. We describe the data acquisition system developed for relic axion detection, and present preliminary results of the electromagnetic properties of the microwave filter, which show the potential of filters to reach QCD axion window sensitivity at X-band frequencies.

hep-ex↗