Feasibility Study on SRF Cavity Improvement by Doping Method

In this article a new idea is proposed by PKU group to improve the RF superconductive property of niobium cavity. Rare earth elements like scandium and yttrium are doped into ingot niobium during the smelting processes. A series of experiments have been done since 2010, and the preliminary testing results show that the magnetic property of niobium materials has been changed with different doping elements and proportions while the superconductive transition temperature almost does not change. Then a large ingot niobium doped with scandium was melted. RRR and mechanical properties were measured. This method may increase the superheating magnetic field and decrease surface resistance of niobium so as to improve the performance of niobium cavity which is a key component of SRF accelerators. A single-cell cavity made of Sc-doped niobium has been fabricated.