Compact Radio Frequency Cavity Resonator Developed

Published January 14, 2025

Small front: A view of the bare Cu cavity with one wall removed. Left: The cap is lifted showing the internal resonator. Right: Nb3Sn film deposited on copper with uniform microstructure for the detector cavity.

We developed a new fabrication method using superconducting materials inside a box, making it more efficient than current designs. This helps create powerful electron and ion beams at lower costs, which can be used for tasks like breaking down harmful chemicals, sterilizing medical equipment, detecting dangerous materials, and producing medical isotopes.

What did scientists discover?

Researchers built a compact 26mm-diameter cavity resonator that integrates AC testing with a modular set of removable samples in one device that fits into an existing magnetometer. The cavity resonator has six Copper walls that can be coated with a high-field superconducting material to test the quality factor (a measure of energy efficiency).

Why is this important?

This device is a new kind of quantum detector intended to investigate dark matter in the universe, which has far-reaching consequences for our fundamental understanding. More broadly, developing devices, test capabilities, and superconducting cavity coatings has implications for enhanced particle accelerators and related major science facilities, high-power electron and ion beams for environmental and medical applications, security applications such as detecting threatening materials, and other industrial projects.

Who did the research?

Andre Juliao^1,2, Nikolya Cadavid^1,2, and Lance Cooley^1,2

¹Applied Superconductivity Center - National MagLab; ²Florida State University

Why did they need the MagLab?

At the MagLab’s Applied Superconductivity Center, superconducting films can be grown with a state-of-the-art ultra-high vacuum sputtering machine and tested in high magnetic fields. Collaboration with the NMR probes group and the quantum device group provided expertise in AC characterizations and considerations for cavity connections. Characterization facilities in NHMFL allow us to see the film microstructure and connect electrical properties to process improvements.

Other Remarks

Expertise and equipment from William Brey, Malathy Elumalai, and Thierry Dubroca at the National MagLab NMR lab were essential for this project.

Details for scientists

View or download the expert-level Science Highlight, Radio Frequency Cavity for Tight Loop Optimization of Nb₃Sn Thin Films
Citation: Andre Juliao 2024 Thin Film Superconducting Radio Frequency Workshop