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Superheating Field of Inhomogeneous Surface Layers in Ginzburg-Landau Theory

ORAL

Abstract

SRF cavities are used in particle accelerators to obtain high accelerating gradients with very high efficiency.

The performance of these cavities is limited by the ability of the superconducting surface layer to maintain the Meissner state in the presence of large magnetic fields.

In particular, superconductivity can persist in a metastable state up to what is known as the superheating field, Hsh, at which point vortices penetrate the material and dissipate energy.

Previously, the superheating field has been calculated for homogenous superconductors within Ginzburg-Landau theory.

However, it has been suggested that SRF performance may by improved by surface layers engineered to increase Hsh.

We extend previous calculations to estimate Hsh for layered superconductors using material parameters calculated from DFT.

We report on a study of the relationships between Hsh and inhomogeneous surface layers with varying profiles.

Presenters

  • Benjamin L Francis

    Brigham Young University

Authors

  • Benjamin L Francis

    Brigham Young University

  • Mark K Transtrum

    Brigham Young University

  • Yundi Quan

    Department of Physics, University of Florida, University of Florida

  • Ajinkya C Hire

    Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Florida, University of Florida

  • Richard G. G Hennig

    University of Florida, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Florida, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611, United States

  • Michelle Kelley

    Cornell University

  • Nathan S Sitaraman

    Cornell University

  • Tomas A Arias

    Cornell University, Physics, Cornell University