New energy efficiency landmark of superconducting cryomodule
Revolutionary technology enhances X-ray lasers performance and reduces costs for healthcare, semiconductors, and research
image: 1.3GHz superconducting cryomodule in the horizontal testing tunnel
Credit: Hai-Xiao Deng
Researchers at Shanghai Advanced Research Institute (SARI) have developed a cryomodule that achieves new global benchmarks for energy efficiency. By enhancing particle accelerator performance, this advancement could influence medical imaging, cancer treatment, clean energy research, and semiconductor production.
High-Performance Cryomodule Enhances Energy Transfer and Electromagnetic Field Generation
The newly developed cryomodule operates at 1.3 GHz, achieving high intrinsic quality factors and accelerating gradients. This enables more efficient energy transfer and the generation of stronger electromagnetic fields to accelerate particles. The improvement could support the development of X-ray free-electron lasers widely used in frontiers of scientific research.
Mid-T Baking and Cooling Processes
A key distinction of the SARI cryomodule is its “mid-temperature baking” process, which optimizes the surface of superconducting cavities and removes impurities. Together with precise degaussing and fast-cooling procedures, this process results in higher quality factors than those achieved before. The cryomodule’s eight superconducting cavities attained an average quality factor of 4.0 × 1010 at 20 MV/m and 3.2 × 1010 at 29 MV/m. The system operated stably at a total accelerating voltage of 241 MV, with no evidence of radiation dose or overheating.
Benefits of Enhanced Accelerator Technology
"This is a proud moment for Shanghai team, as the cryomodule's efficiency surpasses global standards," said Dr. Hai-Xiao Deng, the project leader of the study. "We believe this breakthrough will serve as a foundation for future advancements in accelerator technology worldwide." Improved energy efficiency could reduce operational costs for research and healthcare institutions, while enhanced performance might facilitate access to advanced tools in hospitals and research centers. In healthcare, particle accelerators may become more accessible for medical imaging and cancer treatment applications. In the semiconductor sector, improved accelerators could aid in producing precise lithography tools for microchip production. Enhanced accelerator technology could also facilitate materials science, biology, and physics research, which require more focused and higher-intensity X-rays. The complete study is accessible via DOI: 10.1007/s41365-024-01630-y.