Resonant-Frequency Discharge in a Multi-Cell Radio Frequency Cavity

We are reporting experimental results on a microwave discharge operating at resonant frequency in a multi-cell radio frequency (RF) accelerator cavity. Although the discharge operated at room temperature, the setup was constructed so that it could be used for plasma generation and processing in fully assembled active superconducting radio-frequency cryo-module. This discharge offers a mechanism for removal of a variety of contaminants, organic or oxide layers, and residual particulates from the interior surface of RF cavities through the interaction of plasma-generated radicals with the cavity walls. We describe resonant RF breakdown conditions and address the issues related to resonant detuning due to sustained multi-cell cavity plasma. We have determined breakdown conditions in the cavity, which was acting as a plasma vessel with distorted cylindrical geometry. We discuss the spectroscopic data taken during plasma removal of contaminants and use them to evaluate plasma parameters, characterize the process, and estimate the volatile contaminant product removal

A Survey of Pressure Vessel Code Compliance for Superconducting RF Cryomodules

Superconducting radio frequency (SRF) cavities made from niobium and cooled with liquid helium are becoming key components of many particle accelerators. The helium vessels surrounding the RF cavities, portions of the niobium cavities themselves, and also possibly the vacuum vessels containing these assemblies, generally fall under the scope of local and national pressure vessel codes. In the U.S., Department of Energy rules require national laboratories to follow national consensus pressure vessel standards or to show "a level of safety greater than or equal to" that of the applicable standard. Thus, while used for its superconducting properties, niobium ends up being treated as a low-temperature pressure vessel material. Niobium material is not a code listed material and therefore requires the designer to understand the mechanical properties for material used in each pressure vessel fabrication; compliance with pressure vessel codes therefore becomes a problem. This report summarizes the approaches that various institutions have taken in order to bring superconducting RF cryomodules into compliance with pressure vessel codes.Comment: 7 p

Designing regenerative braking strategies for electric vehicles with an efficiency map

Regenerative braking can lead to an extension of 10 to 25% of a vehicle's range in urban driving. The goal is to define acceptable regenerative torque strategies from an efficiency map of the regenerated energy versus the vehicle's speed, and the kind of road (dry, wet, snow, ...). The method designs the regenerative braking strategy by taking into account all losses. It is applied to a prototype of a recreational 3-wheel rear-wheel drive hybrid vehicle. The electrical motor is linked to the rear wheel with a belt and gears. A longitudinal model of the vehicle is simulated with Matlab/Simulink. The simulated global efficiency map is obtained by applying different regenerative torques and computing the ratio of the incoming battery power to the extracted kinetic power. Experimental measurements give the electrical motor efficiency and the mechanical parameters. An experimental global efficiency map can then be evaluated from those measurements. The optimal regenerative strategy is the one which maximizes the global efficiency for each speed. Simulations show that the designed strategy recaptures more energy than the usual strategies proposed in the literature. The efficiency map also shows that several strategies are acceptable on dry asphalt roads. This is confirmed by some measurements: a deceleration chosen between 2 and 3 m/s2 regenerates almost the same amount of energy (from 65% to 73% of the kinetic energy). Experimental measurements and simulations prove that there is not only one optimal strategy but several acceptable strategies which can be deduced from the global efficiency map. The regenerative torque can then be modified while maintaining an acceptable recapturing efficiency level. Future work will focus on online updating of the map and on designing a slip controller to maintain vehicle stability on slippery roads

High Power Test of RF Separator for 12 GEV Upgrade of CEBAF at Jefferson Lab

CEBAF at JLab is in the process of an energy upgrade from 6 GeV to 12 GeV. The existing setup of the RF separator cavities in the 5th pass will not be adequate enough to extract the highest energy (11 GeV) beam to any two existing halls (A, B or C) while simultaneously delivering to the new hall D in the case of the proposed 12 GeV upgrade of the machine. To restore this capability, several options including the extension of existing normal conducting (NC) and a potential 499 MHz TEM-type superconducting (SC) cavity design have been investigated using computer simulations. Detailed numerical studies suggest that six 2-cell normal conducting structures meet the requirements; each 2-cell structure will require up to 4 kW RF input power in contrast with the current nominal operating power of 1.0 to 2.0 kW. A high power test to 4 kW is required to confirm the cavity’s operate-ability at these elevated gradient and power levels. We have assembled a 2-cell cavity, pumped down to 2.0·10-9 torr using ion pump and confirmed the low level RF performance. A high power test is in progress and will be completed soon. The detailed numerical and experimental results will be discussed in the paper

Superconducting Prototype Cavities for the Spallation Neutron Source (SNS) Project

The Spallation Neutron Source project includes a superconducting linac section in the energy range from 186 MeV to 1000 MeV operating at a frequency of 805 MHz at 2.1 K. For this energy range two types of cavities are needed with geometrical Beta-values of Beta=0.61 and Beta=0.81. An aggressive cavity prototyping program is being pursued at JLab, which calls for fabricating and testing of four Beta=0.61 cavities and two Beta=0.81 cavities. Both types consist of six cells made from high purity niobium and feature one HOM coupler of the TESLA type on each beam pipe and a port for a high power coaxial input coupler. Three of the four Beta=0.61 cavities will be used for a cryomodule test in early 2002. At this time, four medium beta cavities and one high beta cavity have been completed and tested at JLab. In addition, the three medium beta cavities for the prototype cryomodule have been equipped with the integrated Ti-Helium vessel, successfully retested and will be assembled into a cavity string. Results from the cryo-module test should be available by the time of the conference. The tests on the Beta=0.61 cavity and the Beta=0.81 cavity exceeded the design values for gradient and Q - value: E{sub acc} =10.1 MV/m and Q = 5 x 10{sup 9} at 2.1K for Beta=0.61 and E{sub acc} = 12.3 MV/m and Q=5 x 10{sup 9} at 2.1K for Beta = 0.81. The medium beta cavities reached gradients between E{sub acc} = 15 MV/m and 21 MV/m. This paper will describe the test results obtained with the various cavities, some aspects of the HOM damping at cryogenic temperatures, results from microphonics and Lorentz force detuning tests and the cavity string assembly at the time of this workshop

Status of Superconducting RF Linac Development for APT

This paper describes the development progress of high current superconducting RF linacs in Los Alamos, performed to support a design of the linac for the APT (Accelerator Production of Tritium) Project. The APT linac design includes a CW superconducting RF high energy section, spanning an energy range of 211 to 1030 MeV, and operating at a frequency of 700 MHz with two constant beta sections (beta of 0.64 and 0.82). In the last two years, we have progressed towards build a cryomodule with beta of 0.64. We completed the designs of the 5 cell superconducting cavities and the 210 kW power couplers. We are scheduled to begin assembly of the cryomodule in September 2000. In this paper, we present an overview of the status of our development efforts and a report on the results of the cavity and coupler test program.Comment: LINAC2000 THD1

Superconducting Cavities from High Thermal Conductivity Niobium for CEBAF

The Continuous Electron Beam Accelerator Facility (CEBAF) is presently under construction in Newport News, VA.The accelerator consists of approximately 169 meters of 5-cell niobium cavities made from high thermal conductivity niobium with RRR values > 250.Cavities have been manufactured of material from three different suppliers.The material properties like thermal conductivity, residual resistivity and tensile behavior are compared.Results on the performance of these cavities in the presence of high rf fields are reported.Q(sub)0 values as high as 10^10 at 2 K and accelerating gradient of E > 14 MV/m have been achieved

Iodine-123 metaiodobenzylguanidine scintigraphic assessment of pulmonary vascular status in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Background and objective: Lung uptake of iodine-123 metaiodobenzylguanidine ((123)I-MIBG) is used as an indicator of pulmonary endothelial function. Decreased lung uptake of (123)I-MIBG has been demonstrated in patients with COPD as compared with normal subjects. The present study was performed to examine the relationship between lung uptake of (123)I-MIBG and pulmonary artery pressure (Ppa) at rest and during exercise, in patients with COPD. Methods: (123)I-MIBG scintigraphy was performed in 19 patients with COPD. Anterior planar images were acquired 15 min after the injection of (123)I-MIBG, and the total lung to upper mediastinum ratio (LMR) was calculated for both lungs. Right heart catheters were used to monitor Ppa continuously at rest and during exercise. Exercise was performed on an electrically braked bicycle ergometer at a constant workload of 25 W for 3 min. Results: In COPD patients the LMR were not correlated with the pulmonary function parameters measured before exercise, including FEV(1), PaO(2), DL(CO), or Ppa at rest. However, the percentage increase in Ppa during exercise was significantly correlated with LMR. Conclusions: Evaluation of the kinetics of lung uptake of (123)I-MIBG may be a novel scintigraphic tool for the assessment of exercise-induced pulmonary hypertension in patients with COPD.ArticleRESPIROLOGY. 15(8):1215-1219 (2010)journal articl

Pulmonary haemodynamic changes in patients with severe COPD

The definitive version is available at www.blackwell-synergy.com.ArticleRESPIROLOGY. 13(6):919-922(2008)journal articl