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

How nitrogen and oxygen shape SRF cavity performance

THYN01
14 Aug 2025, 11:00
30m
Parallel Session #2 (SAFE Credit Union Convention Center)

Parallel Session #2

SAFE Credit Union Convention Center

Invited Oral Presentation MC7 – Accelerator Technology and Sustainability Accelerator Technology and Sustainability (Invited)

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.

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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

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