STFC is proud to have completed the first crab cavity string assembly for CERN’s Large Hadron Collider Hi-Luminosity upgrade.
Following around three months of ISO 4 cleanroom activities at Daresbury Laboratory, the string has emerged and will soon embark on the next stages of the build. This is the first of four state-of-the-art crab cavity cryomodules that will be built by STFC, and the first globally, with six more due to be built by CERN and a Canadian national lab, TRIUMF.
These crab cavities work by giving the particle bunches a transverse kick as they travel down the beamline, a kick which rotates them and puts them in line for increased collisions. More collisions per second means more data, allowing scientists to increase accuracy in measurements and discoveries. When installed on the LHC, these crab cavities will facilitate the observation of rare particle interactions and new physics phenomena.
Completing this phase of the build was a complex process due to the sheer volume of equipment, fasteners and tooling to be controlled as well as facing the execution of around 100 micro steps that all adhered to quality control standards. Despite this, the build ran smoothly as our engineers and technicians used their specialist skills and knowledge, ensuring the build remained on schedule. The process involved work on everything from design, cleaning and quality management to cleanroom assembly and vacuum testing.
The team faced an intricate process from the preparation and assembly of beamline components in a limited space to meticulous tests including particle counts, helium leak tests and residual gas analysis scans. The work culminated in a visit from CERN collaborators to support the fundamental power couplers insertion, with praise and positive feedback in tow.
Once again, our team of technicians and engineers has exceeded expectations, delivering this milestone swiftly despite facing a complicated build. The Hi-Lumi upgrade is planned as part of LHC’s next long shut down in 2030, we look forward to seeing what incredible discoveries our work will be a part of.
This article was originally written and posted on STFC's LinkedIn page.
