4.2 K Operation of the SNS Cryomodules

The Spallation Neutron Source being built at Oak Ridge National Laboratory employs eighty one 805 MHz superconducting cavities operated at 2.1 K to accelerate the H-beam from 187 MeV to about 1 GeV. The superconducting cavities and cryomodules with two different values of beta (. 61 and .81) have been designed and constructed at Jefferson Lab for operation at 2.1 K with unloaded Q’s in excess of 5×10⁹. To gain experience in testing cryomodules in the SNS tunnel before the final commissioning of the 2.1 K Central Helium Liquefier, integration tests are being conducted on the cryomodules at 4.2 K. This is the first time that a superconducting cavity system specifically designed for 2.1 K operation has been extensively tested at 4.2 K without superfluid helium.

INTRODUCTION

The Spallation Neutron Source (SNS) includes a superconducting-cavity linac for the acceleration of H-ions from 187 MeV to 1 GeV. The linac consists of 11 medium beta cryomodules (each containing three cavities) and 12 high beta cryomodules (each containing four cavities).