Laser Polishing: Green Path to Improved Accelerator Surfaces

[摘要] We pursued three paths toward reducing the initial cost and operating expense of particle accelerators. First, we investigated laser surface melting as an alternative to the present cavity processing approach using noxious chemicals. We successfully demonstrated a process that can be scaled up and defined the path to do so. Second, we sought to develop tailored laser pulsing as a way to simulate the thermal fatigue environment responsible for damaging accelerator components. Though the first three steps along the path were successfully accomplished, the final segment depended on collaborators with unique facilities, whose program was terminated. The third segment aimed to acquire a fundamental understanding of the widely used chemical process that yields the rough surfaces smoothed by laser melting. We found that the roughness is an inherent and unavoidable outcome that limits the performance of components processed thusly.

[发布日期] 2015-10-06

[学科分类] 核物理和高能物理

[关键词] MINIMIZATION;LASERS;ACCELERATORS;SURFACES;MELTING;POLISHING;THERMAL FATIGUE;ROUGHNESS;CAVITY RESONATORS;COST;PERFORMANCE;PROCESSING;PULSES