Industrialization Study of the Accelerating Structures for a 380 GeV Compact Linear Collider

Abstract

The LHC at CERN will continue its operation for approximately 20 years. In parallel, diverse studies are conducted for the design of a future large-scale accelerator. One of the options is the Compact Linear Collider (CLIC) who aims to provide a very high accelerating gradient (100 MV/m) achieved by using normal conducting radiofrequency (RF) cavities operating in the X-band range (12 GHz). Each accelerating structure is a challenging component involving ultra-precise machining and diffusion bonding techniques. The first stage of CLIC operates at a collision energy of 380 GeV with an accelerator length of 11 km, consisting of 21630 accelerating structures. Even though the prototypes have shown a mature and ready to build concept, the present number of qualified suppliers is limited. Therefore, an industrialization study was done through a technical survey with hi-tech companies. The aim is to evaluate current capabilities, to ensure the necessary manufacturing yield, schedule, and cost for mass production. This paper presents the results of the industrialization study for 12 GHz accelerating structures for CLIC 380 GeV, highlighting the principal challenges towards mass production.