Superconducting RF Crab cavities for the Future Circular Collider

University of Lancaster, Cockcroft Institute, United Kingdom
Superconducting RF Crab cavities for FCC
Supervisory team: G Burt Lancaster University

The Future Circular Collider (FCC) study aims at developing conceptual designs for a post-LHC particle accelerator, with an energy significantly above that of previous circular colliders (SPS, Tevatron, LHC). The focus of this study is to investigate the feasibility of creating a 100 km circumference particle collider. The LHC will be the first proton collider to utilise radio frequency (RF) “crab” cavities which use strong electromagnetic fields to rotate the bunch into alignment to increase the number of proton-proton collisions, and FCC will likely also utilise these novel devices.

Crab cavities have a fundamental issue in that the beam highly sensitive to their impedance. LHC has 16 crab cavities and takes up a very large fraction of the LHC impedance budget. For FCC significantly more cavities will be required to crab a 100 TeV proton beams hence the impedance has to be an order of magnitude lower. To solve this CERN has proposed a wide open waveguide (WOW) which transitions from a waveguide cut-off just above 400 MHz to a ridged waveguide, allowing a cavity which traps the crabbing mode but allows all other modes to propagate out. The open structure also is highly compatible with superconducting RF films. This is a very novel RF structure design and no other structures have been designed similar to this.

A PhD student is sought, to help CERN test the proof of principle structure as well as crab cavities for LHC, and then to focus on reoptimizing the cavity and ancillaries for FCC. The student will also investigate coating RF structures in thin-film Nb and optimising the coating process. The student will be based at CERN for at least 2 years possibly more.

The studentship provides a stipend for the duration of the award plus tuition fees at the UK/EU rate.

Applicants should be highly motivated and have a 1st or 2.1 honours degree (or equivalent) in physics, or electronic engineering. Informal enquires should be directed to Prof Graeme Burt ([Email Address Removed])

Funding and eligibility: Upon acceptance of a student, this project will be funded by the Science and Technology Facilities Council for 3.5 years; UK and other EU 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. An IELTS score of at least 6.5 is required.

How to apply: http://www.cockcroft.ac.uk/join-us

Anticipated Start Date: October 2019 for 3.5 Years