An Automated Machine Prototype for Vacuum Chamber Metal Inner Wall Laser Treatment for e-cloud Mitigation
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Dundee
Department Name: Physics
Abstract
Abstracts are not currently available in GtR for all funded research. This is normally because the abstract was not required at the time of proposal submission, but may be because it included sensitive information such as personal details.
Planned Impact
This project has significant potential to provide high impact, acting as an enabling technology for all spheres of research work to be carried out on the HL-LHC. These impacts will include:
Academic impact - The deployment of this technology on the HL-LHC will negate the effect of electron cloud formation and multipacting, leading to a machine which is able to fully deliver on its future scientific programmes without restriction, directly benefitting from this technology.
Societal impact - The scientific output from the existing LHC machine has already been readily accepted by the wider population as one of (if not the) biggest stories in science in the last few decades. HL-LHC will extend this societal interest and both STFC and Dundee University will be able to develop significant outreach and PR capital from the critical use of this technology.
Economic impact - This will be generated by both the science undertaken on the HL-LHC, and by IP opportunities for installation on other accelerator-based facilities and in related technology sectors such as RF cavities and waveguides.
Inclusion of the technology on the HL-LHC will also de-risk the LHC upgrade, providing efficient return on the UK CERN subscription.
Reputational impact - The criticality of this project to the successful delivery of HL-LHC will provide significant opportunities for reputational enhancement of both STFC and Dundee University, and a clear demonstration of STFC, Academia and UK industry working together to provide global solutions for societal impact.
Academic impact - The deployment of this technology on the HL-LHC will negate the effect of electron cloud formation and multipacting, leading to a machine which is able to fully deliver on its future scientific programmes without restriction, directly benefitting from this technology.
Societal impact - The scientific output from the existing LHC machine has already been readily accepted by the wider population as one of (if not the) biggest stories in science in the last few decades. HL-LHC will extend this societal interest and both STFC and Dundee University will be able to develop significant outreach and PR capital from the critical use of this technology.
Economic impact - This will be generated by both the science undertaken on the HL-LHC, and by IP opportunities for installation on other accelerator-based facilities and in related technology sectors such as RF cavities and waveguides.
Inclusion of the technology on the HL-LHC will also de-risk the LHC upgrade, providing efficient return on the UK CERN subscription.
Reputational impact - The criticality of this project to the successful delivery of HL-LHC will provide significant opportunities for reputational enhancement of both STFC and Dundee University, and a clear demonstration of STFC, Academia and UK industry working together to provide global solutions for societal impact.
Publications
Bajek D
(2020)
Role of surface microgeometries on electron escape probability and secondary electron yield of metal surfaces.
in Scientific reports
Baudin L
(2019)
Morphological and Chemical Characterization of Laser Treated Surface on Copper
in Key Engineering Materials
Calatroni S
(2017)
First accelerator test of vacuum components with laser-engineered surfaces for electron-cloud mitigation
in Physical Review Accelerators and Beams
Calatroni S
(2020)
Optimization of the secondary electron yield of laser-structured copper surfaces at room and cryogenic temperature
in Physical Review Accelerators and Beams
Calatroni S
(2019)
Cryogenic surface resistance of copper: Investigation of the impact of surface treatments for secondary electron yield reduction
in Physical Review Accelerators and Beams
Salemme R
(2018)
First beam test of Laser Engineered Surface Structures (LESS) at cryogenic temperature in CERN SPS accelerator
in Journal of Physics: Conference Series
Zolotovskaya S
(2019)
High Performance Thermal Emitters Based on Laser Engineered Surfaces
Zolotovskaya S
(2020)
High-performance thermal emitters based on laser-engineered metal surfaces
in Optical Materials Express
| Description | In large proton accelerators like the Super Proton Synchrotron (SPS) and Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at CERN, generation of secondary electrons form an "electron cloud" surrounding the main proton beam, provoking a significant increase in the heat load that the cryogenic plants can absorb and thus significantly reduce the maximum proton current that can be accelerated. This hinders upgrade of the LHC and new discoveries in experimental Particle Physics. Furthermore, when radiofrequency (RF) electric fields are also present, the electron cloud can lead to a runaway phenomenon known as multipacting, causing breakdown of the RF and serious damage to the accelerator. This funding allowed PI's group at Dundee University to explore their expertise in laser-engineered surface structures (dubbed LESS technology - Laser Engineered Surface Structures) and change the morphology of the internal surfaces of vacuum chambers used in LHC. The surface modification results in a reduced electron emission from the surfaces - known as secondary electron yield (SEY) of surfaces - and consequently, in the reduction or eradication of the electron runaway effects. Low SEY values of the treated surfaces and flexibility in choosing the laser parameters make LESS a universal treatment technique for all accelerators and puts UK at the forefront of the technology. |
| Exploitation Route | The high-precision laser surface engineering technology developed at the University of Dundee has found direct application in the vacuum systems of advanced particle accelerators and is currently incorporated in the Super Proton Synchrotron (SPS) at CERN. The impact of the research and its practical significance is demonstrated by CERN's adoption of this technology as a shared baseline for the upgrade to High Luminosity-Large Hadron Collider (HL-LHC) and the future circular collider. This technology allows to avoid the replacement of CERN cryogenic plants by eliminating the electron cloud, leading to considerable savings for CERN and ultimately its member states globally. The technology could be considered as a universal treatment technique for all accelerators. |
| Sectors | Aerospace, Defence and Marine,Electronics,Energy,Manufacturing, including Industrial Biotechology |
| Description | The high-precision laser surface engineering technology developed at the University of Dundee has found direct application in the vacuum systems of advanced particle accelerators and is incorporated in the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at CERN. The impact of the research and its practical significance is demonstrated by CERN's adoption of this technology as a shared baseline for the upgrade to High Luminosity-LHC (HL-LHC) and the future circular collider. This technology allows to avoid the replacement of CERN cryogenic plants by eliminating the electron cloud, making substantial (multimillion) saving for CERN member states. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2020 |
| Sector | Education,Energy |
| Impact Types | Economic |
| Description | 3-way collaboration agreement (CERN-Dundee-STFC) for match funding of the required equipment/hardware |
| Organisation | European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) |
| Country | Switzerland |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | My research team at the University of Dundee is leading this research. My work on laser surface structuring of metals, funded under EPSRC New Directions for Research Leaders Award (2012-2014), has led to the discovery of novel low secondary electron yield (SEY) surfaces in an informal collaboration with STFC Daresbury Laboratory in between 2013 - 2015. This led to a close collaboration with CERN, and based on this I was awarded the following RCUK/STFC project (Oct 16 - Oct 18): http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk/projects?ref=ST%2FP00086X%2F1 |
| Collaborator Contribution | CERN - Match funding for the STFC funding for the purchase of equipment and hardware. STFC - Funding this research the University of Dundee. |
| Impact | So far, Professor Amin Abdolvand's team (University of Dundee) performed unique experimental treatment procedures on samples of COLDEX beam screens, provided by CERN, in order to determine the laser parameters required to achieve a secondary electron yield (SEY) value < 1 at cryogenic temperatures. Since January 2017, a total of 9 COLDEX sections have been treated and returned to CERN in order to be integrated and ready for SEY testing with beam on the SPS accelerator from April 2017. The LESS treatment must also not create metallic particulates larger than 25 µm in diameter. Sample pieces are therefore being sent to STFC ASTeC at Daresbury Laboratory (DL) and CERN where measurements will determine the number and size of the particulates generated for varying laser parameters. The STFC Mechanical Engineering Group at DL are developing a prototype treatment carriage which will house the required optics and enable the delivery of the laser along beam screens of up to 15m in length. |
| Start Year | 2016 |
| Description | 3-way collaboration agreement (CERN-Dundee-STFC) for match funding of the required equipment/hardware |
| Organisation | Science and Technologies Facilities Council (STFC) |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | My research team at the University of Dundee is leading this research. My work on laser surface structuring of metals, funded under EPSRC New Directions for Research Leaders Award (2012-2014), has led to the discovery of novel low secondary electron yield (SEY) surfaces in an informal collaboration with STFC Daresbury Laboratory in between 2013 - 2015. This led to a close collaboration with CERN, and based on this I was awarded the following RCUK/STFC project (Oct 16 - Oct 18): http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk/projects?ref=ST%2FP00086X%2F1 |
| Collaborator Contribution | CERN - Match funding for the STFC funding for the purchase of equipment and hardware. STFC - Funding this research the University of Dundee. |
| Impact | So far, Professor Amin Abdolvand's team (University of Dundee) performed unique experimental treatment procedures on samples of COLDEX beam screens, provided by CERN, in order to determine the laser parameters required to achieve a secondary electron yield (SEY) value < 1 at cryogenic temperatures. Since January 2017, a total of 9 COLDEX sections have been treated and returned to CERN in order to be integrated and ready for SEY testing with beam on the SPS accelerator from April 2017. The LESS treatment must also not create metallic particulates larger than 25 µm in diameter. Sample pieces are therefore being sent to STFC ASTeC at Daresbury Laboratory (DL) and CERN where measurements will determine the number and size of the particulates generated for varying laser parameters. The STFC Mechanical Engineering Group at DL are developing a prototype treatment carriage which will house the required optics and enable the delivery of the laser along beam screens of up to 15m in length. |
| Start Year | 2016 |
| Title | METHOD OF REDUCING PHOTOELECTRON YIELD AND/OR SECONDARY ELECTRON YIELD OF A CERAMIC SURFACE; CORRESPONDING APPARATUS AND PRODUCT |
| Description | A method of reducing photoelectron yield (PEY) and/or secondary electron yield (SEY) of a ceramic surface comprises applying pulsed laser radiation comprising a series of laser pulses emitted by a laser (4) to the surface of a target (10) to produce a periodic arrangement of structures on the surface of the target (10). |
| IP Reference | WO2017153750 |
| Protection | Patent application published |
| Year Protection Granted | 2017 |
| Licensed | No |
| Impact | 5 times reduction in the secondary electron yield of ceramic surfaces for applications in particle accelerators and electronic devices. |
| Title | METHOD OF, AND APPARATUS FOR, LASER BLACKENING OF A SURFACE, WHEREIN THE LASER HAS A SPECIFIC POWER DENSITY AND/OR A SPECIFIC PULSE DURATION |
| Description | A method of blackening a surface, comprises applying laser radiation to the surface of a target (10) to produce a periodic arrangement of structures on the surface of the target (10), wherein the laser radiation comprises pulsed laser radiation comprising a series of laser pulses and the power density of the pulses is in a range 2 GW/ cm2 to 50 GW/cm2 or 0.1 TW/cm2 to 3 TW/cmz, and/or a pulse duration between 200 femtoseconds to 1000 picoseconds. |
| IP Reference | WO2016207659 |
| Protection | Patent application published |
| Year Protection Granted | 2016 |
| Licensed | Commercial In Confidence |
| Impact | The disclosed IP leads to the formation of high emissivity surfaces for a number of applications (e.g. heat exchangers) and also high contrast blackening of metal surfaces (for coding of information / marking of surfaces). |
| Title | METHOD OF, AND APPARATUS FOR, REDUCING PHOTOELECTRON YIELD AND/OR SECONDARY ELECTRON YIELD |
| Description | A method of reducing photoelectron yield (PEY) and/or secondary electron yield (SEY) of a surface of a target (10), comprises applying laser radiation to the surface of the target (10) to produce a periodic arrangement of structures on the surface, wherein the laser radiation comprises pulsed laser radiation comprising a series of laser pulses and the power density of the pulses is in a range 0.01 TW/cm2 to 3 TW/cm2, optionally 0.1 TW/cm2 to 3 TW/cm2. |
| IP Reference | WO2016207660 |
| Protection | Patent application published |
| Year Protection Granted | 2016 |
| Licensed | Commercial In Confidence |
| Impact | This has led to an RCUK funded project with equal match funding from CERN (Geneva, Switzerland). http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk/projects?ref=ST%2FP00086X%2F1 |
| Description | LESS gets off to a flying start |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Update progress news on the STFC-funded collaboration between CERN, STFC and Dundee University, which was initiated in November 2016, and is currently underway with the aim to produce Laser Engineered Surface Structures (LESS) for the upgrade of the HL-LHC at CERN. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| URL | https://www.astec.stfc.ac.uk/Pages/LESS-Gets-off-to-a-Flying-Start!.aspx |
| Description | Laser technology to help take Large Hadron Collider to next level |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Press release related to a new international partnership based on the technology and IP developed within my EPSRC award |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| URL | http://www.stfc.ac.uk/news/large-hadron-collider-to-next-level |
| Description | Pioneering laser technology experiment completed at Dundee |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | The research team at the University of Dundee used the COLDEX beam screens, which had been provided by CERN, in order to determine laser parameters required to achieve a Secondary Electron Yield (SEY) value of <1 at cryogenic temperatures (1.9 degrees Kelvin or -271.3°C) for the upgrade go the LHC. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| URL | https://www.dundee.ac.uk/scienceengineering/news/2017/article/pioneering-laser-technology-experiment... |