Fermilab, Batavia, Illinois, USA
Vacuum window research continues at Fermilab and this paper will examine cost effective, consistent designs which can have a significant impact on accelerator laboratories in terms of safety and cost. Issues such as the design, materials, analysis, testing and fabrication are addressed, including beam scattering and materials cost-benefit analysis and examining potential material substitutes for beryllium. A previous research paper has examined current fabrication and design techniques and also failure modes at Fermi, and this paper focuses on emerging and novel technologies for vacuum window fabrication. Many different paths have been taken by High Energy Physics (HEP) Laboratories throughout the world with varying success. The history of vacuum window development is extensive and not well defined, and a matrix of the research already completed on materials and joint design for vacuum windows will be shown. This report finally includes a treatise for vacuum window technology and a view towards emerging designs and materials and discusses future advances of research such as fabrication techniques including additive manufacturing and ultrasonic welding. Further exploration into these would prove beneficial to developing vacuum windows that are safer and stronger while being more transparent to the beam.
