Domain 3 – Irradiation Effects & vacuum arcs

At CERN, understanding how materials respond to energetic particle irradiation and strong electromagnetic fields is crucial to ensure the reliability and lifetime of accelerator components operating under extreme conditions.

Our recent studies — spanning hydrogen–metal interactions, irradiation-induced defects, and vacuum breakdown phenomena among others— contribute to the development of radiation-tolerant, high-performance materials for present and future accelerator facilities.

SEM images of the Cu surface irradiated by H− ions at the high fluence area. Surface shows blisters with different aspect depending on grains crystallographic orientation
Surface features on GEM chambers Corresponding to the outlet from Irradiation effects on GEM detectors operated at RUN1 and RUN2 at the LHCb experiment
Different irradiated cathodes overlaid with the breakdown locations after conditioning.(a) CuBe2, (b) CuCr1Zr, (c) SS316LN, (d) Ta from Effects of H− low beam irradiation and high field pulsing tests in different metals

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