Breakdown Suppression in Accelerating Structures Using Electron Beam Processing

78542S Intense, low emittance beams are required for muon colliders, storage rings, and neutrino factory applications. However, vacuum breakdown and high dark currents, which occur on copper and other electrode materials used in accelerating structures, impose limits on the performance. This project will develop in situ electron beam processing of the whole surface inside muon accelerating RF cavities to allow higher operating electric fields without breakdown and with suppressed dark currents. Phase I will develop a prototype design of the in situ electron beam breakdown suppression system and prepare for its integration in the structure of muon accelerators, including the 201MHz cooling channel currently being designed under the Muon Ionization Cooling Experiment. Commercial Applications and Other Benefits as described by the awardee: The technology should be applicable to high-energy physics and vacuum electronics applications. In muon accelerators, it will allow for higher quality beams for muon colliders, storage rings, and neutrino factory applications. The reduced number of accelerating cavities should dramatically reduce accelerator cost. Vacuum electronics applications include X-ray tubes, pulsed power microwave devices, klystrons, magnetrons, traveling wave tubes, vacuum capacitors, relays, and circuit breakers.