Progress on Superconducting Materials for SRF Applications

About this Research Topic

Background

Superconducting radiofrequency (SRF) technology is being used not only in discovery science programs and basic research in particle accelerators but also for several energy applications, medical, security and quantum computing. Superconducting bulk niobium (Nb) has been the material of choice to fabricate SRF cavities, and significant efforts have been given to understating the fundamentals understating of the material's parameters to the performance of SRF cavities. In addition, the communities are exploring alternative superconductors (Nb3Sn, NbTiN, MgB2...) to fabricate energy-efficient SRF cavities with reduced cryogenic loss and a higher energy reach.

Continuous research development has pushed the performance of SRF cavities to the theoretical limits. The recent advances in cavity processing techniques with doping, infusion, and baking resulted in high-quality factors and research is ongoing to push the high-quality factor towards a high accelerating gradient. Additionally, the alternative to the bulk Nb, the thin film superconductor offers cost-effective and high-performance superconducting cavities in accelerator and quantum information science.

The goal of this research topic is to explore the recent advances in superconducting materials research towards SRF applications.

This research topic highlights the advancement of superconducting materials used in SRF applications towards high-performance SRF technology. The cavity fabrications (bulk or thin films) technique and materials characterization boost the understanding of the performance of SRF cavities. Cutting-edge processing techniques (doping, infusion, baking, and coating) along with the materials analysis (structural, electronic, thermal, mechanical) will advance the SRF technology to more efficient applications.

We encourage researchers to submit original research articles and reviews of the most recent advances in superconducting materials used in SRF applications. Potential topics encouraged are but not limited to:

• Bulk niobium

• Superconducting and surface characterization techniques

• Alternative to bulk niobium

• Thin film deposition techniques and characterizations

• Material engineering and fabrication

• Microwave properties and applications

Keywords: Superconductivity, Microwave, Superconducting materials, thin films, SRF cavities, Characterization, Niobium

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.

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