10–15 Aug 2025
SAFE Credit Union Convention Center
America/Los_Angeles timezone

Unlocking SRF Performance: How Nitrogen and Oxygen Shape Cavity Performance

SUP085
10 Aug 2025, 15:00
3h
Ballroom A (SAFE Credit Union Convention Center)

Ballroom A

SAFE Credit Union Convention Center

Poster Presentation MC7 – Accelerator Technology and Sustainability SUP: Sunday Student Poster Session

Speaker

Hannah Hu (University of Chicago)

Description

Nitrogen and oxygen-based surface treatments have revolutionized the performance of superconducting radiofrequency (SRF) cavities, enabling them to reach higher gradients and lower losses. However, the exact mechanisms by which these treatments improve cavity performance remain largely unknown. This work provides new insights into the role of nitrogen and oxygen in SRF cavity performance by using time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (TOF-SIMS) to precisely quantify the concentrations and depth profiles of these impurities within niobium cutouts. We correlate these impurity profiles with detailed cavity performance measurements, including surface resistance and quality factor, and compare our findings with predictions from BCS theory. The results demonstrate that while both nitrogen and oxygen enhance performance, ten times more oxygen is required to achieve the same reduction in BCS resistance as interstitial nitrogen. We present a potential model in which the observed variation arises from nitrogen's greater effectiveness in trapping hydrogen, thus reducing the formation of niobium hydrides and enhancing superconducting gap.

I have read and accept the Privacy Policy Statement Yes
Please consider my poster for contributed oral presentation No
Would you like to submit this poster in student poster session on Sunday (August 10th) Yes

Author

Hannah Hu (University of Chicago)

Co-authors

Daniel Bafia (Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory) Young-Kee Kim (University of Chicago, Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory)

Presentation materials

There are no materials yet.