Skip to content

Physics Colloquium: (SSM 104) G. Ciovati (Jefferson Lab/Old Dominion University) - "Non-linearities in the surface impedance of Nb for accelerator cavity applications"

February 3, 2017 - 5:15pm

Title:   Non-linearities in the surface impedance of Nb for accelerator cavity applications (SSM 104)

Niobium is the most common superconductor used in radio-frequency resonators for accelerator applications. The surface impedance of a metal, whether normal conducting or superconducting, is defined as the ratio of the electric and magnetic field component of the plane wave in the metal. Expressions for the surface impedance of superconductors have been calculated since the 1950s in the limit of weak fields. The quality factor of superconducting radio-frequency cavities is inversely proportional to the average surface resistance, the real part of the surface impedance. Experiments have shown that the quality factor exhibits significant field dependencies at low, medium and high fields, revealing non-linearities in the surface resistance. Such non-linearities are related to specific surface preparation methods and typically result in an increase of the surface resistance at high fields. However, recent developments in cavity preparation methods resulted in the decrease of the surface resistance up to fields relevant for accelerator applications. In this presentation, we will review some of the experimental results on the field dependence of the quality factor of niobium and we will discuss some future challenges and opportunities.

 

Biography:

Gigi received a Laurea in Physics (equivalent to BS) from University of Milan in 2000, a MS and PhD from Old Dominion University in 2003 and 2005, respectively. He has been a staff scientist at Jefferson Lab since 2001 with a joint appointment with the Physics Dept. at ODU since 2015. In 2008 Gigi received the Presidential Early Career Award in Science and Engineering for my research on understanding loss mechanisms in SRF cavities.

 

Every Friday 10:45-11:45 a.m., COB 267 (except as noted). Refreshments will be served from 10:30 - 10:45 a.m. Questions regarding the seminar series should be directed to Prof. Bin Liu