Development of sustainable Superconducting RF for UK-XFEL

A student is sought for a PhD study on the development of thin film coated superconducting RF cavities for the UK X-ray Free Electron Laser (UK-XFEL) design study. Current particle accelerators use huge amounts of energy but not all of it goes into the beam, a significant fraction is lost as heat due to the surface resistance of the RF cavities. This additional energy must be delivered from the electrical grid and hence leads to higher CO2 emissions. Future colliders will need to be more sustainable and a collaborative program at STFC and Lancaster University has been initiated to develop superconducting cavities, which have much lower surface resistances, to meet future needs of a number of future projects. The project will investigate the use of thin coatings of novel superconducting materials to provide the highest performance as well as minimizing the power demand for the UK-XFEL As well as improving efficiency novel materials offer the potential for substantially higher accelerating fields making accelerators substantially smaller.

The PhD student will be involved in several areas during the PhD including RF simulation and design, testing of thin film coated superconducting cavities, and evaluating the CO2 produced by the different design options. Currently CO2 produced in the complex manufacturing process is not well understood and the project will influence future accelerator designs. The aim of the project will be to develop the baseline cavity geometry, materials and system for the UK-XFEL The student will join a vibrant team of researchers across Lancaster, STFC and Liverpool involved in thin film coating and superconducting measurement. The project is based at Daresbury Laboratory and will have access to state of the art superconducting test facilities. The project will be co-supervised by the RF group in the STFC Accelerator Science and Technology Centre.

The applicant will be expected to have a first or upper second class degree in in physics, electronics, electrical or nuclear engineering and should have a good understanding of electromagnetism. The student will also be joining the Cockcroft Institute and will take part in a world leading PhD training program on particle accelerators.

Potential applicants are encouraged to contact Prof Graeme Burt (graeme.burt@cockcroft.ac.uk) for more information. This position will remain open until filled.

Funding and eligibility: Upon acceptance of a student, this project will be funded for 3.5 years including both stipend and fees; UK citizens are eligible to apply. A full package of training and support will be provided by the Cockcroft Institute, and the student will take part in a vibrant accelerator research and education community of over 150 people.