Tensile Strength of Niobium-Tin Film
Advisor(s)
Dr. Sam Posen, Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory
Location
Room A119
Start Date
26-4-2019 10:25 AM
End Date
26-4-2019 10:40 AM
Abstract
All superconducting cavities must be submerged in liquid helium cooled to 2-4 degrees Kelvin where they have good superconducting properties. The ability to cool these cavities requires significant cryogenic resources. Using niobium-tin as a film on the interior of the cavity reduces the heat generated allowing the cavities to operate at 4 Kelvin, thus saving money and resources. This project focuses on testing the tensile strength of a niobium-tin film over a niobium cavity. The samples of niobium coated in this film are placed in an Instron to be measured and photographed through a laser confocal microscope, where they are searched for cracks. The film must withstand 2.5% of accumulated strain in order to be considered viable for cavity tuning, during which process the cavity is repeatedly compressed and stretched. Should the film crack during this process, its surface resistance will greatly increase and limit its usefulness as a film on the interior of the cavity.
Tensile Strength of Niobium-Tin Film
Room A119
All superconducting cavities must be submerged in liquid helium cooled to 2-4 degrees Kelvin where they have good superconducting properties. The ability to cool these cavities requires significant cryogenic resources. Using niobium-tin as a film on the interior of the cavity reduces the heat generated allowing the cavities to operate at 4 Kelvin, thus saving money and resources. This project focuses on testing the tensile strength of a niobium-tin film over a niobium cavity. The samples of niobium coated in this film are placed in an Instron to be measured and photographed through a laser confocal microscope, where they are searched for cracks. The film must withstand 2.5% of accumulated strain in order to be considered viable for cavity tuning, during which process the cavity is repeatedly compressed and stretched. Should the film crack during this process, its surface resistance will greatly increase and limit its usefulness as a film on the interior of the cavity.