Partnerships and Technology Transfer

Technology Summary

Particle physics research increasingly demands accelerators that deliver high-power beams. Superconducting Radio-Frequency (SRF) cavities are currently the most efficient technology to reach such high beam power. But while SRF technology is efficient, the complexity of current 1.8 K liquid-helium-cooled systems leads to very capital intensive and operationally complex operation. This has stifled transfer of SRF technology to a variety of industrial applications that stand to benefit significantly from high-powered beams.

The Invention

Fermilab has developed a conduction cooling technique for SRF cavities. Conduction cooling, especially when combined with higher-temperature superconductors such as Nb₃Sn, allows– for the first time ever– the operation of SRF cavities without liquid helium. The novel technique leverage commercially-available 4 K cryo-coolers, which significantly reduces the complexity and cost of the system.

Benefits

Fermilab’s conduction cooling technology replaces complex and expensive cryogenics systems. This dramatically reduces the capital and operating costs and permits SRF accelerators, for the first time, to be used in industrial settings.

Applications and Industries

• Industry
• Medicine
• Security
• Science