AVS 49th International Symposium
    Applied Surface Science Thursday Sessions
       Session AS-ThM

Paper AS-ThM5
Surface Properties of Chemically Processed Niobium

Thursday, November 7, 2002, 9:40 am, Room C-106

Session: Practical Surface Science I
Presenter: E.S. Gillman, Jefferson Lab
Authors: E.S. Gillman, Jefferson Lab
A.M. Valente, Jefferson Lab
Correspondent: Click to Email
Many high-performance accelerators, such as CEBAF at Jefferson Lab, rely on superconducting radio-frequency (SRF) technology. SRF technology at Jefferson Lab is based on the use of superconducting niobium accelerating cavities. The accelerating cavities are contained in cryomodules where liquid helium maintains the temperature at 2 K. To realize the highest energy and lowest heat loss from these accelerators means improving the performance of the accelerating cavities. We have studied the surface of chemically processed, heat-treated niobium used in these cavities with angle-resolved x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (ARXPS) to ascertain the effect of process conditions on cavity performance. Our data indicates correlations between the passivation oxide layer thickness and stochiometry with processing conditions and that processing conditions can be directly correlated with cavity performance. This work was supported by U.S. DOE Contract No. DE-AC05-84-ER40150, the Commonwealth of Virginia and the Laser Processing Consortium.