A   B   C   D   E   F   G   H   I   J   K   L   M   N   O   P   Q   R   S   T   U   V   W   X   Y   Z    

Valente-Feliciano, A-M.

Paper Title Page
MOPCH184 Plasma Treatment of Bulk Niobium Surfaces for SRF Cavities 493
 
  • L. Vuskovic, S. Popovic, M. Raskovic
    ODU, Norfolk, Virginia
  • L. Godet, S.B. Radovanov
    VSEA, Gloucester, Maryland
  • H.L. Phillips, A-M. Valente-Feliciano
    Jefferson Lab, Newport News, Virginia
 
  Cavity surface preparation has been one of the major problems in superconducting radio-frequency (SRF) accelerator technology. Accelerator performance depends directly on the physical and chemical characteristics at the SRF cavity surface. The primary objective of our work is to explore the effects of various types of electric discharge plasmas to minimize surface roughness and eliminate or minimize deterioration of cavity properties by oxygen, hydrogen and other chemical contaminants. To optimize the plasma etching process, samples of bulk Nb are being exposed to three types of electrical discharge in various experimental set-ups. The surface quality obtained by the three methods was compared with samples treated with buffer chemical polishing techniques. Surface comparisons are made using digital imaging (optical) microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and atomic force microscopy. In preliminary tests, samples compared with those treated conventionally have shown comparable or superior properties. Tests have also shown that surface quality varies with plasma conditions and their optimization to obtain the best SRF cavity surface is a major goal of the ongoing work.