970 research outputs found
Surface Superconductivity in Niobium for Superconducting RF Cavities
A systematic study is presented on the superconductivity (sc) parameters of
the ultrapure niobium used for the fabrication of the nine-cell 1.3 GHz
cavities for the linear collider project TESLA. Cylindrical Nb samples have
been subjected to the same surface treatments that are applied to the TESLA
cavities: buffered chemical polishing (BCP), electrolytic polishing (EP),
low-temperature bakeout (LTB). The magnetization curves and the complex
magnetic susceptibility have been measured over a wide range of temperatures
and dc magnetic fields, and also for di erent frequencies of the applied ac
magnetic field. The bulk superconductivity parameters such as the critical
temperature Tc = 9.26 K and the upper critical field Bc2(0) = 410 mT are found
to be in good agreement with previous data. Evidence for surface
superconductivity at fields above Bc2 is found in all samples. The critical
surface field exceeds the Ginzburg-Landau field Bc3 = 1.695Bc2 by about 10% in
BCP-treated samples and increases even further if EP or LTB are applied. From
the field dependence of the susceptibility and a power-law analysis of the
complex ac conductivity and resistivity the existence of two different phases
of surface superconductivity can be established which resemble the Meissner and
Abrikosov phases in the bulk: (1) coherent surface superconductivity, allowing
sc shielding currents flowing around the entire cylindrical sample, for
external fields B in the range between Bc2 and Bcohc3, and (2) incoherent
surface superconductivity with disconnected sc domains between Bcohc3 and Bc3.
The coherent critical surface field separating the two phases is found to be
Bcoh c3 = 0.81Bc3 for all samples. The exponents in the power law analysis are
different for BCP and EP samples, pointing to different surface topologies.Comment: 15 pages, 21 figures, DESY-Report 2004-02
Measuring the Cosmological Geometry from the Lyman Alpha Forest along Parallel Lines of Sight
We discuss the feasibility of measuring the cosmological metric using the
redshift space correlation function of the Lya forest in multiple lines of
sight, as a function of angular and velocity separation. The geometric
parameter that is measured is f(z) = H(z) D(z)/c, where H(z) is the Hubble
constant and D(z) the angular diameter distance at redshift z. The correlation
function is computed in linear theory. We describe a method to measure it from
observations with the Gaussianization procedure of Croft et al (1998) to map
the Lya forest transmitted flux to an approximation of the linear density
field. The effect of peculiar velocities on the shape of the recovered power
spectrum is pointed out. We estimate the error in recovering the f(z) factor
from observations due to the variance in the Lya absorbers. We show that ~ 20
pairs of quasars (separations < 3') are needed to distinguish a flat \Omega_0=1
universe from a universe with \Omega_0=0.2, \Omega_\Lambda=0.8. A second
parameter that is obtained from the correlation function of the Lya forest is
\beta \simeq \Omega(z)^{0.6}/b (affecting the magnitude of the peculiar
velocities), where b is a linear theory bias of the Lya forest. The statistical
error of f(z) is reduced if b can be determined independently from numerical
simulations, reducing the number of quasar pairs needed for constraining
cosmology to approximately six. On small scales, where the correlation function
is higher, f(z) should be measurable with fewer quasars, but non-linear effects
must then be taken into account. The anisotropy of the non-linear redshift
space correlation function as a function of scale should also provide a precise
quantitative test of the gravitational instability theory of the Lya forest.Comment: submitted to Ap
Bayesian Power Spectrum Analysis of the First-Year WMAP data
We present the first results from a Bayesian analysis of the WMAP first year
data using a Gibbs sampling technique. Using two independent, parallel
supercomputer codes we analyze the WMAP Q, V and W bands. The analysis results
in a full probabilistic description of the information the WMAP data set
contains about the power spectrum and the all-sky map of the cosmic microwave
background anisotropies. We present the complete probability distributions for
each C_l including any non-Gaussianities of the power spectrum likelihood.
While we find good overall agreement with the previously published WMAP
spectrum, our analysis uncovers discrepancies in the power spectrum estimates
at low l multipoles. For example we claim the best-fit Lambda-CDM model is
consistent with the C_2 inferred from our combined Q+V+W analysis with a 10%
probability of an even larger theoretical C_2. Based on our exact analysis we
can therefore attribute the "low quadrupole issue" to a statistical
fluctuation.Comment: 5 pages. 4 figures. For additional information and data see
http://www.astro.uiuc.edu/~iodwyer/research#wma
Model for initiation of quality factor degradation at high accelerating fields in superconducting radio-frequency cavities
A model for the onset of the reduction in SRF cavity quality factor, the
so-called Q-drop, at high accelerating electric fields is presented. Breakdown
of the surface barrier against magnetic flux penetration at the cavity equator
is considered to be the critical event that determines the onset of Q-drop. The
worst case of triangular grooves with low field of first flux penetration Hp,
as analyzed previously by Buzdin and Daumens, [1998 Physica C 294: 257], was
adapted. This approach incorporates both the geometry of the groove and local
contamination via the Ginzburg-Landau parameter kappa, so the proposed model
allows new comparisons of one effect in relation to the other. The model
predicts equivalent reduction of Hp when either roughness or contamination were
varied alone, so smooth but dirty surfaces limit cavity performance about as
much as rough but clean surfaces do. When in combination, contamination
exacerbates the negative effects of roughness and vice-versa. To test the model
with actual data, coupons were prepared by buffered chemical polishing and
electropolishing, and stylus profilometry was used to obtain distributions of
angles. From these data, curves for surface resistance generated by simple flux
flow as a function of magnetic field were generated by integrating over the
distribution of angles for reasonable values of kappa. This showed that
combined effects of roughness and contamination indeed reduce the Q-drop onset
field by ~30%, and that that contamination contributes to Q-drop as much as
roughness. The latter point may be overlooked by SRF cavity research, since
access to the cavity interior by spectroscopy tools is very difficult, whereas
optical images have become commonplace. The model was extended to fit cavity
test data, which indicated that reduction of the superconducting gap by
contaminants may also play a role in Q-drop.Comment: 15 pages with 7 figure
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