Development Of A Superconducting Undulator With Small Filament Nb3Sn Strand Which Is Capable Of Generating Fast Switching

This proposal is submitted in response to the SBIR/STTR Office of Basic Energy Science Solicitation Topic 11(a), “Superconducting undulator with fast switching variably polarized radiation, (a) Development of a Superconducting Undulator Capable of Generating Fast Switching Variably Polarized Radiation”. This topic seeks to design and build an undulator prototype that is capable of fast switching between linear and helical configurations of the magnetic field generated on the axis of the undulator. Changes in field configurations should ideally be executed with the frequency not less than 1 Hz, thus allowing to vary undulator radiation polarization with a rate not achievable with permanent magnet undulators. This requires not only the current in the coil stabilized to its new values but also any eddy current and associated field induced by the fast switching minimized. This proposal is tailored directly to the above requirements. We will design and make a prototype of two overlapped and coaxial helical superconducting undulators for generation of both planar and elliptically polarized radiation which will be capable of generating fast switching polarized radiation by powering one helical or double helicals. This program is focused on the demonstration of a fast switching double-helical style undulator using high performance Nb3Sn conductor. The program has relevance to the development of improved insertion devices for synchrotron light sources. According to a U.S. EPA article, more than 97% of the 15,000 accelerators in use around the world have commercial applications, e.g. in the diagnosing and treating of cancer, the locating of oil and minerals in the earth, the processing semiconductor chips for computers, the determination of the age of materials through radiocarbon dating, the sterilizing of medical equipment and food products.