Development of Alternative Reduced-Cost Helium Vessels for ILC Cavities

The International Linear Collider represents the next great undertaking for the worldwide high energy physics community. In addition to the technical challenges, the political realities demand that ILC R&D focus on reducing the cost of the components of this massive facility. The helium vessels that enclose each of the 16,000 superconducting cavities have been identified as a cost driver for the cryomodules. Lower cost alternatives must be explored. For reasons of thermal compatibility, the helium vessels for the ILC cavities are currently made from titanium, which are very expensive. This project will design a stainless steel helium vessel system for the ILC cavities based on stainless-steel-to-niobium transitions. Commercial Applications and other Benefits as described by the awardee: A lower cost helium vessel design should offer cost savings to the ILC that may be in the tens of millions of dollars. The design also should be applicable to all future superconducting RF cavity systems.