High-energy ion linacs based on superconducting spoke cavities

The applicability of superconducting TEM-class spoke cavities to high-energy ion linacs is discussed, and detailed designs for two TEM-class, triple-spoke-loaded superconducting niobium resonant cavities are presented. The 345 MHz cavities have a velocity range of 0.4<β<0.75 and a beam aperture of 4 cm. Spoke-loaded cavities offer several advantages compared with the higher-frequency elliptical-cell cavities that are currently being developed for this range of particle velocities. The proposed triple-spoke cavities can provide broader velocity acceptance, more accelerating voltage per cavity, reduced heat-load operation at 4.2 K, and increased longitudinal acceptance through the high-energy section. Application to the proposed U.S. rare-isotope accelerator driver linac is discussed in detail.