Experimental HEP Seminar

Superconducting Radiofrequency Cavity R&D at Toronto

William Trischuk

University of Toronto

The next generation of high energy physics experiments will require significant advances in accelerator technology. While hundreds of university groups are involved in detector collaborations, accelerator development, commissioning and operation has long been focused only at major particle physics labs — significantly restricting the number of researchers involved. For example, in Canada TRIUMF is building an eLINAC based on the 1.3 GHz SRF cavities that are also being prototyped for the ILC.

We are collaborating with TRIUMF to expand Canadian capabilities in SRF cavity design, manufacture and testing, with the goal of involving students who may go on to be part of the next generation of accelerator physicists. We have helped upgrade the SRF facilities at TRIUMF that have been used to test 1.3 GHz prototypes from DESY and FNAL. Recently we've tested the first Canadian-made single cell cavity. Our goal is not only to produce cavities for the eLINAC but also to broaden Canada's technical capability to contribute to future accelerator collaborations such as the ILC or CERN's SPL. Results from the first cavity tests at TRIUMF, simulations of an eLINAC buncher cavity and work underway to design and test second-sound quench detectors that can localise cavity defects will be discussed as examples of how a university group can contributed to an accelerator R&D project.