Superconducting RF technology for accelerators had its beginnings in the 1960’s and 70’s, when a small number of scientists and engineers wagered their reputations and the livelihoods of their laboratories on an unproven technology. For ion acceleration, the ‘killer’ application was as an afterburner for a heavy-ion tandem accelerator. The new technology offered efficiency and flexibility that could not be matched using room temperature structures. The wager paid off and it has been my pleasure to participate in the rapid expansion of the technology over the past 15 years. Widespread interest in large SRF-based accelerators spanning the full velocity range has driven the development of new SRF cavities. A confluence of the previously separate efforts on cavities for ions and for electrons has benefited all and the fruits are just beginning to bear. This presentation highlighting Argonne’s ATLAS heavy-ion accelerator illustrates these recent technical achievements.

Argonne Physics Division Colloquium Schedule