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At least 109 records · Page 6

Development of X-Band Dielectric-Loaded Accelerating Structures

This paper presents a progress report on the development and testing of X-band dielectric-loaded accelerating structures. Recent tests on several quartz DLA structures with different inner diameters are reported. Designs for gap-free DLA structures are presented. Also, planned new experiments are discussed, including higher gradient traveling-wave and standing-wave structures and special grooved structures for multipactor suppression.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗

Suppression of secondary electron yield by micro-porous array structure

We study secondary electron yield (SEY) suppression for metal materials using a roughened surface with a micro-porous array. First, we perform a Monte Carlo simulation of the electron trajectory in a single cylindrical well using a phenomenological model of secondary electron emission and the SEY suppression efficiency of a micro-porous array. The simulation results show that the SEY of a roughened surface is affected significantly by the aspect ratio of the micro-pores and the surface porosity of the metal plate. Then, to verify the simulation results, we produce a micro-porous array on metal plates using photolithography and measure their SEYs. We show that the micro-porous array structure can efficiently suppress the SEY of metal materials, and the measurements agree quantitatively with the corresponding simulation results. Finally, we derive an analytical formula to evaluate easily the SEY suppression efficiency of the Ag micro-porous array. In total, the micro-porous array proposed in this paper offers an alternative to SEY suppression in related areas such as multipactor effects in satellite payloads or electron cloud effects in accelerators.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Resonant coupling applied to superconducting accelerator structures

The concept of resonant coupling and the benefits that accrue from its application is well known in the world of room temperature coupled cavity linacs. Design studies show that it can be applied successfully between sections of conventional elliptical superconducting coupled cavity accelerator structures and internally to structures with spoked cavity resonators. The coupling mechanisms can be designed without creating problems with high field regions or multipactoring. The application of resonant coupling to superconducting accelerators eliminates the need for complex cryogenic mechanical tuners and reduces the time needed to bring a superconducting accelerator into operation.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗

Collision and diffusion in microwave breakdown of nitrogen gas in and around microgaps

The microwave induced breakdown of N{sub 2} gas in microgaps was modeled using the collision frequency between electrons and neutral molecules and the effective electric field concept. Low pressure breakdown at the threshold electric field occurs outside the gap, but at high pressures it is found to occur inside the microgap with a large threshold breakdown electric field corresponding to a very large electron oscillation amplitude. Three distinct pressure regimes are apparent in the microgap breakdown: a low pressure multipactor branch, a mid-pressure Paschen branch, both of which occur in the space outside the microgap, and a high pressure diffusion-drift branch, which occurs inside the microgap. The Paschen and diffusion-drift branches are divided by a sharp transition and each separately fits the collision frequency model. There is evidence that considerable electron loss to the microgap faces accompanies the diffusion-drift branch in microgaps.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Enhanced window breakdown dynamics in a nanosecond microwave tail pulse

The mechanisms of nanosecond microwave-driven discharges near a dielectric/vacuum interface were studied by measuring the time- and space-dependent optical emissions and pulse waveforms. The experimental observations indicate multipactor and plasma developing in a thin layer of several millimeters above interface. The emission brightness increases significantly after main pulse, but emission region widens little. The mechanisms are studied by analysis and simulation, revealing intense ionization concentrated in a desorbed high-pressure layer, leading to a bright light layer above surface; the lower-voltage tail after main pulse contributes to heat electron energy tails closer to excitation cross section peaks, resulting in brighter emission.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Summary of Working Group 3: Laser and High-Gradient Structure-Based Acceleration

Accelerating particles at high gradients with high efficiencies is essential for reduction of size and cost of future accelerators for science and industry. This includes a future multi-TeV e+e- collider for particle, free-electron lasers for basic energy sciences and national security, industrial accelerators for energy and environmental applications, and accelerators for other applications. One way to achieve this is to use advanced externally-powered structures, both laser and RF driven. Working Group 3 (WG3) discussed novel accelerating structures with new geometries, new materials, frequencies from microwave to THz and optical spectrum, and operating conditions from room temperature to cryogenic. Presentations included recent advances in understanding RF breakdown and multipactor phenomena at different frequencies and materials, and other physics limitations to the accelerating gradient. Other relevant topics, such as developing high-gradient photoinjectors, high-efficiency RF power sources, and RF structures for a potential muon collider were discussed also. More details on each of the WG3 topics can be found in the articles published in these proceedings.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗

Testing and Processing of Pre-production 325 MHz Single Spoke Resonator Power Couplers for PIP-II Project

Fundamental 325 MHz power couplers are designed, built and tested for SSR cavities in PIP-II project. Couplers should work in CW mode at power level 7.5kW w/o beam and ~15 kW with the 2 mA beam. At pre-production stage we built and tested 6 couplers, produced by CPI (FNAL) and PMB (IJCLab) and 4 more couplers will be tested soon. Two of tested couplers had TiN coated ceramic window. In warm test stand two couplers were mounted on the coupling chamber and tested in SW regime at full reflection with phase controlled by position of short and reflection insert. Couplers were tested at pulse mode (up to 25kW) and cw mode (12kW) with HV bias or without bias. Test results demonstrated that 3.5 kV DC bias completely suppresses multipactor in coupler. Vacuum activity in coupler was controlled by e-pickups and build-in vacuum gauges, located near the vacuum side of window. Power processing without DC bias was done for several couplers with and without TiN coating on ceramic window. Test results are presented and discussing in paper.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗

Optimization of a traveling wave superconducting radiofrequency cavity for upgrading the International Linear Collider

The standing wave TESLA niobium-based superconducting radio frequency structure is limited to an accelerating gradient of about 50 MV/m by the critical rf magnetic field. To break through this barrier, we explore the option of niobium-based traveling wave (TW) structures. Optimization of TW structures was done considering experimentally known limiting electric and magnetic fields. It is shown that a TW structure can have an accelerating gradient above 70 MeV/m that is about 1.5 times higher than contemporary standing wave structures with the same critical magnetic field. The other benefit of TW structures shown is R/Q about 2 times higher than the TESLA structure that reduces the dynamic heat load by a factor of 2. A method is proposed how to make TW structures multipactor-free. Some design proposals are offered to facilitate fabrication. Further increase of the real-estate gradient (equivalent to 80 MV/m active gradient) is also possible by increasing the length of the accelerating structure because of higher group velocity and cell-to-cell coupling. Realization of this work opens paths to International Linear Collider energy upgrades beyond 1 to 3 TeV in competition with CLIC. The paper will discuss corresponding opportunities and challenges.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗

Testing of PIP-II pre-production 650 MHz couplers in warm test stand and in cryomodule

650 MHz fundamental power couplers were developed for PIP-II project to deliver RF power for low-beta and high-beta elliptical cavities. Few prototypes were built and tested and after some modification we built 8 pre-production couplers (with few spares for vacuum side) for HB650 cryomodule. All couplers were successfully tested in pulse mode (up to 100kW) and in CW mode (up to 50kW) in test stand at full reflection at 8 phases. In baseline configuration with DC bias we do not see any multipactoring activity after short processing. We also tested power processing without bias for uncoated and TiN coated ceramic window. Results of these studies presented in this paper. One of the coupler was assembled on LB650 cavity and tested at cryogenic environment in STC cryostat at ~20kW power with full reflection at different reflection phase. We also demonstrated good result from power processing without bias for warm and cold cavity. Six couplers were assembled on HB650 cavities in pre-production cryomodule. Test results from cryomodule qualification is discussing in this paper.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗

TESTING AND PROCESSING OF PRE-PRODUCTION 325 MHZ SINGLE SPOKE RESONATOR POWER COUPLERS FOR PIP-II PROJECT

Fundamental 325 MHz power couplers are designed, built and tested for SSR cavities in PIP-II project [1]. Couplers should work in CW mode at power level 7.5kW w/o beam and ~15 kW with the 2 mA beam. At pre-production stage we built and tested 6 couplers, produced by CPI (FNAL) and PMB (IJCLab) and 4 more couplers will be tested soon. Two of tested couplers had TiN coated ceramic window. In warm test stand two couplers were mounted on the coupling chamber and tested in SW regime at full reflection with phase controlled by position of short and reflection insert. Couplers were tested at pulse mode (up to 25kW) and cw mode (12kW) with HV bias or without bias. Test results demonstrated that 3.5 kV DC bias completely suppresses multipactor in coupler. Vacuum activity in coupler was controlled by e-pickups and build-in vacuum gauges, located near the vacuum side of window. Power processing without DC bias was done for several couplers with and without TiN coating on ceramic window. Test results are presented and discussing in paper.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

RF multicoupler design techniques to minimize problems of corona, multipaction, and stability

A mathematical expression was derived describing multipacting and corona effects in a coaxial cavity. Both mechanical and electrical design techniques were investigated to minimize the susceptibility of coaxial cavity to corona and multipacting-type breakdown. To assist in the design of a multicoupler free from corona and multipactor breakdown, a flow chart obtained from the derived mathematical expression is included.

Hurley, H. S.↗

Low loss, flexible, lightweight corporate RF feed system for SAR antenna application

Mechanical and electrical efficiency constraints imposed by the SEASAT-A synthetic aperture radar antenna posed difficult design problems. After consideration of available standard cable and waveguide systems, it was determined that an optimum design could be obtained from a suspended substrate RF feed system. Size and mechanical flexibility constraints forced the design of a flexible, suspended substrate section capable of 180-degree flexure. Original design goal for insertion loss over power division was 1 db; measured results indicated 0.6 db maximum across the band. Multipactor testing of system components indicated system breakdown capability in excess of 4 kW compared to a specification input maximum of 1500 W.

Schiavone, F.↗

High power RF coaxial switch

A coaxial switch capable of operating in a vacuum with high RF power in the 1.2 GHz range without multipactor breakdown, and without relying on pressurization with an inert gas is described. The RF carrying conductors of the switch are surrounded with a high grade solid dielectric, thus eliminating any gaps in which electrons can accelerate.

Caro, E. R.↗

High voltage design guide. Volume 5: Spacecraft

This report supplies the technical background and design techniques needed by an engineer who is designing electrical insulation for high-voltage, high-power components, equipment, and systems on spacecraft. The data in this volume is in addition to the material in Volume 4 of the final report "High Voltage Design Guide: Aircraft' which is common to the electrical insulation design for both aircraft and spacecraft equipment. The common data includes testing, tracking, partial discharges and corona. Unique material involves the semi vacuum environment, spacecraft charging, and multipactor.

W G Dunbar↗

Ground testing in a simulated auroral environment

Shuttle polar orbit missions are being planned in which astronaut extravehicular activities (EVA) will eventually include external operations or repair and refurbishment of satellites. Recent satellite data and model calculations show that significant spacecraft charging and differential charging occurs in that environment and could endanger equipment and personnel involved in the EVA. These spacecraft charging events take place in response to an intense flux of high energy electrons accompanied by a large drop in the ambient plasma density. The extent of which the auroral environment can be simulated in a large vacuum chamber are determined so that conditions which lead to significant charging and discharging may be observed and controlled. A large chamber would be required in order to simulate the effects of an aurora-like, large cross-section, energetic electron precipitation on a target system the size of an astronaut with a life support system. The precipitating electrons can be simulated with an array of multipactor sources and the background ionization produced by the beam can be limited to the range of the auroral density if the chamber pressure is not significantly above 1 x .000001 Torr. Some small chamber work has shown that the plasma in the beam will diffuse radially at a rate determined by the Bohm diffusion coefficient.

Mcintyre, Bernard↗

International Space Station (ISS) S-Band Corona Discharge Anomaly Consultation

The Assembly and Contingency Radio Frequency Group (ACRFG) onboard the International Space Station (ISS) is used for command and control communications and transmits (45 dBm or 32 watts) and receives at S-band. The system is nominally pressurized with gaseous helium (He) and nitrogen (N2) at 8 pounds per square inch absolute (psia). MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates Ltd. (MDA) was engaged to analyze the operational characteristics of this unit in an effort to determine if the anomalous behavior was a result of a corona event. Based on this analysis, MDA did not recommend continued use of this ACRFG. The NESC was requested to provide expert support in the area of high-voltage corona and multipactoring in an S-Band RF system and to assess the probability of corona occurring in the ACRFG during the planned EVA. The NESC recommended minimal continued use of S/N 002 ACRFG until a replacement unit can be installed. Following replacement, S/N 002 will be subjected to destructive failure analysis in an effort to determine the proximate and root cause(s) of the anomalous behavior.

Kichak, Robert A.↗

Low-Gain Circularly Polarized Antenna with Torus-Shaped Pattern

The Juno mission to Jupiter requires an antenna with a torus-shaped antenna pattern with approximately 6 dBic gain and circular polarization over the Deep Space Network (DSN) 7-GHz transmit frequency and the 8-GHz receive frequency. Given the large distances that accumulate en-route to Jupiter and the limited power afforded by the solar-powered vehicle, this toroidal low-gain antenna requires as much gain as possible while maintaining a beam width that could facilitate a +/-10deg edge of coverage. The natural antenna that produces a toroidal antenna pattern is the dipole, but the limited approx. = 2.2 dB peak gain would be insufficient. Here a shaped variation of the standard bicone antenna is proposed that could achieve the required gains and bandwidths while maintaining a size that was not excessive. The final geometry that was settled on consisted of a corrugated, shaped bicone, which is fed by a WR112 waveguide-to-coaxial- waveguide transition. This toroidal low-gain antenna (TLGA) geometry produced the requisite gain, moderate sidelobes, and the torus-shaped antenna pattern while maintaining a very good match over the entire required frequency range. Its "horn" geometry is also low-loss and capable of handling higher powers with large margins against multipactor breakdown. The final requirement for the antenna was to link with the DSN with circular polarization. A four-layer meander-line array polarizer was implemented; an approach that was fairly well suited to the TLGA geometry. The principal development of this work was to adapt the standard linear bicone such that its aperture could be increased in order to increase the available gain of the antenna. As one increases the aperture of a standard bicone, the phase variation across the aperture begins to increase, so the larger the aperture becomes, the greater the phase variation. In order to maximize the gain from any aperture antenna, the phase should be kept as uniform as possible. Thus, as the standard bicone fs aperture increases, the gain increase becomes less until one reaches a point of diminishing returns. In order to overcome this problem, a shaped aperture is used. Rather than the standard linear bicone, a parabolic bicone was found to reduce the amount of phase variation as the aperture increases. In fact, the phase variation is half of the standard linear bicone, which leads to higher gain with smaller aperture sizes. The antenna pattern radiated from this parabolic-shaped bicone antenna has fairly high side lobes. The Juno project requested that these sidelobes be minimized. This was accomplished by adding corrugations to the parabolic shape. This corrugated-shaped bicone antenna had reasonably low sidelobes, and the appropriate gain and beamwidth to meet project requirements.

Amaro, Luis R.↗

Innovative Electrostatic Adhesion Technologies

Developing specialized Electro-Static grippers (commercially used in Semiconductor Manufacturing and in package handling) will allow gentle and secure Capture, Soft Docking, and Handling of a wide variety of materials and shapes (such as upper-stages, satellites, arrays, and possibly asteroids) without requiring physical features or cavities for a pincher or probe or using harpoons or nets. Combined with new rigid boom mechanisms or small agile chaser vehicles, flexible, high speed Electro-Static Grippers can enable compliant capture of spinning objects starting from a safe stand-off distance. Electroadhesion (EA) can enable lightweight, ultra-low-power, compliant attachment in space by using an electrostatic force to adhere similar and dissimilar surfaces. A typical EA enabled device is composed of compliant space-rated materials, such as copper-clad polyimide encapsulated by polymers. Attachment is induced by strong electrostatic forces between any substrate material, such as an exterior satellite panel and a compliant EA gripper pad surface. When alternate positive and negative charges are induced in adjacent planar electrodes in an EA surface, the electric fields set up opposite charges on the substrate and cause an electrostatic adhesion between the electrodes and the induced charges on the substrate. Since the electrodes and the polymer are compliant and can conform to uneven or rough surfaces, the electrodes can remain intimately close to the entire surface, enabling high clamping pressures. Clamping pressures of more than 3 N/cm2 in shear can be achieved on a variety of substrates with ultra-low holding power consumption (measured values are less than 20 microW/Newton weight held). A single EA surface geometry can be used to clamp both dielectric and conductive substrates, with slightly different physical mechanisms. Furthermore EA clamping requires no normal force be placed on the substrate, as conventional docking requires. Internally funded research and development has demonstrated that EA can function effectively in space, even in the presence of strong ultraviolet radiation, atomic oxygen, and free electrons. We created a test setup in an existing vacuum chamber to simulate low-Earth-orbit conditions. An EA mechanism was fabricated and installed in the chamber, instrumented, operated in a vacuum, and subjected to ultraviolet photons and free electrons generated by an in-chamber multipactor electron emitter. Extensions to EA that can add value include proximity and contact sensing and transverse motion or rotation, both of which could enhance docking or assembly applications. Possible next steps include development of targeted applications for ground investigation or on-orbit subsystem performance demonstrations using low cost access to space such as CubeSats.

Bryan, Tom↗