A metal artifact, roughly 40 cm tall, consisting primarily of a central ovoid chamber, and flanges on either extremity. Each flange has twelve bolt holes. One flange has four bolts placed in these holes.
Accession Number: 2024.ph.892
Alternative Name: SRF Cavity
Primary Materials: Niobium
Markings:
Dimensions (cm): Height = 39.4, Max Diam = 22.
A radio frequency (RF) cavity is a common component of particle accelerators. In recent accelerators, a niobium metal cavity, such as this one, forms part of a larger structure typically consisting of nine-such cells and other equipment. These cells are immersed in a vessel of saturated liquid helium and cooled to a point at which they become superconducting. In other words, they offer ultra-low electrical resistivity to the current applied, and are thus much more efficient than earlier generations of RF cavities and superconducting magnets.
Banks of such super-cooled units operate at very high energy electrical fields applied at a radio frequency corresponding to the cavities’ resonant frequency. The electrical fields generated within the cavities accelerate a particle beam as it passes through the centre (aperture) of each chamber.
This prototype example was used for testing purposes at the University of Toronto.
Condition: This artifact shows no obvious damage.
Associated Instruments:
Manufacturer:
Date of Manufacture: c. 2012
This artifact was acquired from the office of Professor Robert S. Orr of the University of Toronto Department of Physics on 31 July, 2024.
Additional Information and References:
This testing unit was used at the University of Toronto as part of development work, beginning around 2010, towards the planned International Linear Collider (ILC). The Toronto group, led by Professor Prof. Robert S. Orr, developed a test cryostat to assist in developing the technology. The group also developed diagnostic equipment to help localize flaws in cavity surface of these challenging-to-manufacture components. These include an Oscillating Superleak Transducer (OST)-based system for detecting perturbations in the liquid helium bath on cavity quench, as well as a system for detecting minute temperature increases at the surface of the cavities, associated with the onset of electron field emission. These diagnostic tools have been tested and used in other laboratories involved in SRF cavity development including TRIUMF and Fermilab.
Throughout this research, the U of T team has collaborated with the Superconducting Radio Frequency (SRF) Group at TRIUMF particle acceleration laboratory in Vancouver , British Columbia. The TRIUMF laboratory has extensive experience in the development and production of SRF cavities, and has integrated cavities of this design into the e-linac accelerator intended for rare isotope production. The e-linac began operation in 2021.
The niobium superconducting SRF cavity has been used on other successful accelerator projects, notably the European X-ray Free Electron Laser (E-XFEL) facility near Hamburg, Germany, which uses 768 examples.
Development of this SRF cavity, which has taken place across numerous international laboratories, is ultimately intended for the planned International Linear Collider (ILC).
This 30 km long, 500 GeV machine is meant to study the Higgs boson particle that was identified using the Large Hadron Collider in 2012. If and when the ILC is built, it will require many thousands such SRF cavities. Mass production of these precision components will likely require multiple manufacturers. Canada has developed SRF cavity manufacturing capacity at the TRIUMF lab in collaboration with industrial partners.
- Donated to UTSIC