Multipacting is one of the major loss mechanisms in RF superconductivity cavities for accelerators. This loss mechanism limits the maximum amount of energy/power supported by the cavities. Optimal designs have been identified in others’ studies. In practice, these designs are not easily manufactured. Chemical etching processes used to polish the cavity walls result in a nonuniform surface etch. A nonuniform surface etch will leave some unclean areas with contaminants and micron size particles. These significantly affect multipacting. Further, a nonuniform etch will leave areas with damaged grain structure, which is not good for superconducting properties. Typically, the depth of chemical polishing etch ranges between 10 to 150 microns.
It is the purpose of this study to examine the chemical etching process in the design of niobium cavities so to maximize the surface quality of the cavity walls while minimizing the multipacting losses. Single and multiple cavity cell geometries are to be investigated. Optimization techniques will be applied in search of the chemical etching processes, which will lead to cavity walls with near ideal properties
