The Iwate Accelerator-related Industry Lecture Series, which are seminars on ILC technology held by the Iwate Industry Promotion Center, was held at the Takizawa campus of Iwate Prefectural University on August 24th. These seminars are about the technology used in accelerators and are aimed at businesses that would like to get involved with the accelerator industry. At this seminar, officials from industry, academia, and government learned more about SRF cavities, the key piece of technology within the ILC. They also looked for ways to get involved.
Around 150 people attended from private businesses, universities, government agencies, and other organizations from within and outside of Iwate. Lecturers from the High Energy Accelerator Research Organization (KEK) and the Advanced Accelerator Association Promoting Science & Technology (AAA) spoke about manufacturing technology and performance measurement for the SRF cavities, as well as AAA’s activities.
Associate Professor Takayuki Saeki of KEK spoke about the techniques used in manufacturing and surface treating the SRF cavities. The cavities are produced from an expensive rare metal called niobium, so he explained production processes, techniques, devices needed, and how to process the surface of the cavities using chemical polishing and electropolishing methods.
The ILC will require around 17,000 of these SRF cavities. “We are trying to secure a 90% yield ratio. With only a 50% ratio, the prices of these parts would double, and the ILC plan would quickly fail. It’s a highly difficult technique, but we can’t accept even one mistake,” said Associate Professor Saeki, pointing out that the project requires advanced technology.
Saeki also spoke about the highly expensive surface treatment for the SRF cavities. “We are trying as hard as possible to lower costs, because when we process the 17,000 cavities, we’ll be able to create the ILC for the first time. If you look at it another way, once we clear this hurdle, we’ll still have this and other technology at our disposal. Once the ILC is realized, we’ll be able to use these to get involved with other high-tech industries.”
Professor Hitoshi Hayano of KEK presented on performance measurement for SRF cavities and technology needed to assemble cryomodules. He spoke about frequency regulation and measuring electropolishing performance.
This series of lectures was started in fiscal year 2015 to create a networking space for officials of industry, academia, and government that are involved in the accelerator industry. It also aims to improve the technology level of Iwate businesses, increase business opportunities, and accumulate accelerator-related industry within the prefecture.