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Romanenko, Alexander

Publications and source records attributed to Romanenko, Alexander.

49 records · Page 3
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2021

Internal Friction Measures to Study Precipitates Formation in EP and N-Doped Bulk Nb for SRF Applications

Main focus of this study is the investigation of thermodynamics phenomena responsible for the High Field Q Slope (HFQS) in SRF cavities by Internal Friction (IF) measurement. Mechanical spectroscopy is, indeed, a well-established technique to study precipitate formations in BCC materials and several works on the effects of impurities as N and O on the Snoek peak have been published so far and will be taken as reference to explain the mechanisms behind the observed dissipation effects. Internal Friction measurements were performed in Belgium at IMCE on Nb rectangular shape samples with different RRR values prepared at Fermilab by using Electro Polishing (EP), N-doping and heat treatments in order to reproduce the same conditions during the standard treatments applied on bulk Nb SRF cavities. From IF spectra, the H trapping mechanism by interstitial atoms (N and O and/or vacancies, depending on the purity level, RRR) can be easily recognized leading to results that perfectly corroborate previous findings on Q-disease, HFQS and RRR phenomena.

Spina, Tiziana↗
DOE OSTI2021

Discovery of Nb hydride precipitates in superconducting qubits

We report the first evidence of the formation of niobium hydrides within niobium films on silicon substrates in superconducting qubits fabricated at Rigetti Computing. We combine complementary techniques including room and cryogenic temperature atomic scale high-resolution and scanning transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM and STEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and the time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectroscopy (TOF-SIMS) to reveal the existence of the niobium hydride precipitates directly in the Rigetti chip areas. Electron diffraction and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM) analyses are performed at room and cryogenic temperatures (~106 K) on superconducting qubit niobium film areas, and reveal the formation of three types of Nb hydride domains with different crystalline orientations and atomic structures. There is also variation in their size and morphology from small (~5 nm) irregular shape domains within the Nb grains to large (~10-100 nm) Nb grains fully converted to niobium hydride. As niobium hydrides are non-superconducting and can easily change in size and location upon different cooldowns to cryogenic temperatures, our findings highlight a new previously unknown source of decoherence in superconducting qubits, contributing to both quasiparticle and two-level system (TLS) losses, and offering a potential explanation for qubit performance changes upon cooldowns. A pathway to mitigate the formation of the Nb hydrides for superconducting qubit applications is also discussed.

Lee, Jaeyel↗
DOE OSTI2021

Overlap junctions for superconducting quantum electronics and amplifiers

Due to their unique properties as lossless, nonlinear circuit elements, Josephson junctions lie at the heart of superconducting quantum information processing. Previously, we demonstrated a two-layer, submicrometer-scale overlap junction fabrication process suitable for qubits with long coherence times. Here, we extend the overlap junction fabrication process to micrometer-scale junctions. This allows us to fabricate other superconducting quantum devices. For example, we demonstrate an overlap junction-based Josephson parametric amplifier that uses only two layers. This efficient fabrication process yields frequency-tunable devices with negligible insertion loss, a gain of ∼30 dB, and quantum limited noise performance. Compared to other processes, the overlap junction allows for fabrication with minimal infrastructure, high yield, and state-of-the-art device performance.

Bal, Mustafa (ORCID:0000000307516774)↗
DOE OSTI2021

The Role of Oxygen Concentration in Enabling High Gradients in Niobium SRF Cavities

We studied the role of O concentration with depth in the performance of Nb SRF cavities. An ensemble of electropolished 1.3 GHz cavities, which initially showed high field Q-slope (HFQS), was subjected to sequential testing and treatment with in-situ low temperature baking at various temperatures. We find that increasing the bake duration causes (i) an increase in the onset of HFQS until it is absent up to quench (ii) a non-monotonic relationship with the quench field (iii) an evolution of the RBCS toward a non-equilibrium behavior that drives anti-Q slope. Our data is qualitatively explained by assuming an O diffusion model and suggests that the mitigation of HFQS that arises from 120 C in-situ LTB is mediated by the diffusion of O from the native oxide which prevents the precipitation of proximity-coupled Nb nano-hydrides, in turn enabling higher quench fields. The decrease in quench field for cavities in which O has been diffused >90 nm from the RF surface may be due to a reduction of the field limit in the SS bilayer structure. We also suggest that the evolution of the RBCS occurs due to the absence of proximity coupled inclusions, bringing about non-equilibrium effects.

Bafia, D.↗
DOE OSTI2019

Investigation of Frequency Behavior Near Tc of Niobium Superconducting Radio-Frequency Cavities

This paper will present a systematic investigation of the resonant frequency behavior of niobium SRF cavities subject to different surface processing (nitrogen doping, nitrogen infusion, 120°C bake, EP, etc.) near the critical transition temperature. We find features occurring in frequency versus temperature (FvsT) data near Tc that seem to vary with surface processing. Emphasis is placed on one of the observed features: a dip in the superconducting resonant frequency below the normal conducting value which is prominent in nitrogen doped cavities and appears to be a signature of nitrogen doping. This gives further insights on the mechanisms responsible for the large increase in performance of cavities subject to this surface treatment. The magnitude of this dip in frequency is studied and related to possible physical parameters such as the concentration of impurities near the surface and the design resonant frequency of the cavity. A possible explanation for the meaning of this dip is discussed, namely, that it is a result of strong coupling between electrons and phonons within the resonator.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗
DOE OSTI2019

The LCLS-II HE High Q and Gradient R&D Program

The LCLS-II HE project is a high energy upgrade to the superconducting LCLS-II linac. It consists of adding twenty additional 1.3 GHz cryomodules to the linac, with cavities operating at a gradient of 20.8 MV/m with a Q₀ of 2.7·10¹⁰. Performance of LCLS-II cryomodules has suggested that operations at this high of a gradient will not be achievable with the existing cavity recipe employed. Therefore a research program was developed between SLAC, Fermilab, Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility, and Cornell University in order to improve the cavity processing method of the SRF cavities and reach the HE goals. This program explores the doping regime beyond what was done for LCLS-II and also has looked to further developed nitrogen-infusion. Here we will summarize the results from this R\&D program, showing significant improvement on both single-cell and 9-cell cavities compared with the original LCLS-II cavity recipe.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗
DOE OSTI2019

First Direct Imaging and Profiling TOF-SIMS Studies on Cutouts from Cavities Prepared by State-of-the-Art Treatments

Small amounts of interstitial impurities in the penetra-tion depth of superconducting radio frequency (SRF) cavities have a dramatic effect on the quality factors and maximum accelerating gradients. Here we report the first TOF-SIMS studies of cutouts from cavities prepared by all modern surface treatments, which allow a direct corre-lation of the impurity distribution with the observed cavity performance. Imaging capability of our instrument allows to avoid the possible issues associated with the ‘‘ghost’’ depth profiles appearing as a consequence of particulate surface contamination, which likely caused the inconclusive SIMS results on e.g. oxygen diffusion in the past.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗
DOE OSTI2019

New Insights on Nitrogen Doping

This paper covers a systematic study of the quench in nitrogen doped cavities: a cavity was sequentially treated/reset with different N-doping recipes which are known to produce different levels of quench field. Analysis of cavity heating profiles using TMAP are used to gain insight on the origins of quench; new recipes demonstrate the possibility to increase quench fields well beyond 30 MV/m. In addition, a new signature of nitrogen doping is explored, namely, a dip in the superconducting resonant frequency below the normal conducting value just below the critical transition temperature, giving further insights on the mechanisms responsible for the large increase in performance of cavities subject to this surface treatment.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗
DOE OSTI2019

Gradients of 50 MV/m in TESLA Shaped Cavities via Modified Low Temperature Bake

This paper will discuss the 75/120 C modified low temperature bake capable of giving unprecedented accel-erating gradients of above 50 MV/m for 1.3 GHz TESLA-shaped niobium SRF cavities in CW operation. A bifurca-tion in the Q₀ vs E_{acc} curve is observed after retesting cavities without disassembly in between, yielding per-formance that ranges from exceptional to above state-of-the-art. Atomic Force Microscopy studies on cavity cut-outs gives a possible mechanism responsible for this branching in performance, namely, the dissociation and growth of room temperature niobium nano-hydrides that exist near the RF surface, which are made superconduct-ing only through the proximity effect. In-situ low temper-ature baking of cavity cutouts reveals a dissociation of these room temperature nano-hydrides, which could ex-plain the higher performance of cavities subject to similar in-situ heating in the dewar.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗
DOE OSTI2019

New Insights in the Quench Mechanisms in Nitrogen Doped Cavities

This paper will cover a systematic study of the quench in nitrogen doped cavities: three cavities were sequentially treated/reset with different doping recipes which are known to produce different levels of quench field. Analysis of mean free path and TMAP coupled with sample analysis reveals new insights on the physics of the premature quench in nitrogen doped cavities; new recipes demonstrate the possibility to increase quench fields well beyond 30 MV/m.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗
DOE OSTI2019

Operation of an SRF Cavity Tuner Submerged into Liquid He

To precisely control the resonance of 1.3 GHz SRF cavities during testing at the FNAL’s Vertical Test Facility, we install for the first time a double lever tuner and operate it when submerged into the liquid He bath. Both active components of the tuner: electromechanical actuator (stepper motor) and piezo-actuators are operated inside superfluid helium. Accuracy in controlling the SRF cavity resonance frequency will be presented. Specifics of the tuner operation when submerged into liquid He will be discussed.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗
DOE OSTI2019

Understanding and Pushing the Limits of Nitrogen Doping

This work will describe Fermilab experiments that focus on the optimization of doping parameters to achieve low sensitivity to trapped magnetic flux while maintaining very high Q characteristic of nitrogen doped cavities and same or higher quench fields. Working partially in the context of LCLS-2 higher energy upgrade, new doping recipes are pursued and have been found to vary the mean free path of the resonator which is related to the sensitivity to trapped magnetic flux. Moreover, a correlation has been found between lighter doping and higher quench fields while maintaining sufficiently low surface resistance.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗