A review of the thin film techniques potentially applicable to cavities – Rosa Alejandra Lukaszew – TFSRF-2014

Title: A review of the thin film techniques potentially applicable to cavities
Author: Rosa Alejandra Lukaszew
Institution: College of William and Mary (VA)
Abstract: SRF is a surface phenomenon where only ~10 penetration depths are needed (l=40 nm for niobium), thus it has been recognized for some time now that it would be economically convenient to use thin film coated cavities. But problems arise with defects within 1 or 2 l of the surface or on the surface, and insufficient attention has been paid to this topic, including trapping of impurities like oxygen in defects as well as surface roughness enabling magnetic field pinning sites. Earlier attempts at CERN applied standard sputter PVD methods, but the grain size for the CERN Nb/Cu films was 100 nm, which is 10,000 times smaller than for conventional SRF cavities with the ensuing problems that appear at grain boundaries. Thus, these prior attempts showed higher surface resistance and worst Q-slope than bulk. I will review more modern approaches using higher energetic PVD methods for thin film deposition which offer promise to achieve thin films with improved superconducting performance.

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