Next Generation Nb3Sn SRF Cavities for Linear Accelerators

Niobium-3 Tin (Nb3Sn) is a very promising alternative material for SRF accelerator cavities. The material can achieve higher quality factors, higher temperature operation and potentially higher accelerating gradients (~ 96 MV/m) compared to conventional niobium. This material is formed by vaporizing Sn in a high temperature vacuum furnace and letting the Sn absorb into a Nb substrate to form a 2-3 um Nb3Sn layer. Current Nb3Sn cavities produced at Cornell achieve Q ~ 10¹⁰ at 4.2 K and 17 MV/m. Here we present a summary of the current performance of Nb₃Sn cavities at Cornell and recent progress in improving the accelerating gradient.