Development and Characterization of Nb₃n/Al₂0₃ Superconducting Multilayers for Particle Accelerators
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2021
DOI
10.1038/s41598-021-87119-9
Publication Title
Scientific Reports
Volume
11
Issue
1
Pages
1-9
Abstract
Superconducting radio-frequency (SRF) resonator cavities provide extremely high quality factors > 1010 at 1-2 GHz and 2 K in large linear accelerators of high-energy particles. The maximum accelerating field of SRF cavities is limited by penetration of vortices into the superconductor. Present state-of-the-art Nb cavities can withstand up to 50 MV/m accelerating gradients and magnetic fields of 200-240 mT which destroy the low-dissipative Meissner state. Achieving higher accelerating gradients requires superconductors with higher thermodynamic critical fields, of which Nb3Sn has emerged as a leading material for the next generation accelerators. To overcome the problem of low vortex penetration field in Nb3Sn, it has been proposed to coat Nb cavities with thin film Nb3Sn multilayers with dielectric interlayers. Here, we report the growth and multi-technique characterization of stoichiometric Nb3Sn/Al2O3 multilayers with good superconducting and RF properties. We developed an adsorption-controlled growth process by co-sputtering Nb and Sn at high temperatures with a high overpressure of Sn. The cross-sectional scanning electron transmission microscope images show no interdiffusion between Al2O3 and Nb3Sn. Low-field RF measurements suggest that our multilayers have quality factor comparable with cavity-grade Nb at 4.2 K. These results provide a materials platform for the development and optimization of high-performance SIS multilayers which could overcome the intrinsic limits of the Nb cavity technology.
Original Publication Citation
Sundahl, C., Makita, J., Welander, P. B., Su, Y.-F., Kametani, F., Xie, L., Zhang, H., Li, L., Gurevich, A., & Eom, C.-B. (2021). Development and characterization of Nb₃n/Al₂0₃ superconducting multilayers for particle accelerators. Scientific Reports, 11(1), 1-9, Article 7770. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-87119-9
ORCID
0000-0003-0759-8941 (Gurevich)
Repository Citation
Sundahl, Chris; Makita, Junki; Welander, Paul B.; Su, Yi-Feng; Kametani, Fumitake; Xie, Lin; Zhang, Huimin; Li, Lian; Gurevich, Alex; and Eom, Chang-Beom, "Development and Characterization of Nb₃n/Al₂0₃ Superconducting Multilayers for Particle Accelerators" (2021). Physics Faculty Publications. 496.
https://digitalcommons.odu.edu/physics_fac_pubs/496
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Comments
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