ALAMEDA APPLIED SCIENCES CORPORATION — Department of Energy SBIR Phase I: Superconducting Radiofrequency Accelerators require a critical component that connects the

Description

Superconducting Radiofrequency Accelerators require a critical component that connects the radiofrequency power supply that is warm, to the accelerator cavity that is very cold. Making this coupler insulating on the outside, so that it blocks heat from going into the cold region while making it highly conducting on the inside, to minimize radiofrequency power losses, is not easy. Existing methods do not work well enough to satisfy the requirements of large new accelerators that need thousands of these couplers. A better solution is needed. Alameda Applied Sciences Corporation (AASC) has demonstrated thin films of copper coated onto stainless steel that could meet the conflicting requirements of the RF coupler: stainless steel block heat on the outside while copper conducts RF power efficiently on the inside. In this project we will improve upon our coating solution by using an innovative particle filter that improves the copper coating, allowing it to stick better to the stainless steel. Commercial Applications and Other Benefits: Various governments alone are expected to invest $1B over the next decade or so into superconducting accelerators. Private sector investment would match or exceed that with breakthroughs as noted above. About 20% of this investment would go to purchase of RF couplers so represents a good commercial opportunity. AASC would license its knowhow and patents to larger companies so as to have an impact on this opportunity.