May 2024 | Dr. Sebastian Keckert receives this year’s young talent award for accelerator physics from the German Physical Society (DPG).
The prize, worth 5,000 euros, is awarded to him for outstanding research results in the field of novel materials for superconducting high-frequency systems. Pfeiffer Vacuum is one of the sponsors of this award, which is presented annually by the DPG Accelerator Physics Working Group in collaboration with renowned institutions and companies. The institutions German Electron Synchrotron (DESY), GSI Helmholtz Center for Heavy Ion Research, Helmholtz Center Berlin for Materials and Energy (HZB) as well as the companies Pfeiffer Vacuum and RI Research Instruments jointly honor young scientists. The aim is to honor the work of young researchers that was created at an early stage at a university or research institution in the field of accelerator physics.
Further development of quadrupole resonator
Keckert has significantly developed the principle of the quadrupole resonator for testing superconducting materials. The improvements he made to the quadrupole resonator are used in several laboratories worldwide. This lays the foundation for a precise and comprehensive characterization of the high-frequency properties of novel superconducting material systems.
The scientist’s successes include, for example, the first precise characterization of a multilayer superconductor that could surpass the classic niobium material in terms of both the achievable field strength and the power loss. The mobilization of this potential is of considerable importance for the construction of future accelerator facilities, especially with regard to sustainability aspects.
“The next big step for superconducting particle accelerators are cavity resonators in which superconducting thin films are used,” explains Keckert. “This would allow the resonators to operate at 4 Kelvin instead of 2 Kelvin. This means that significant savings could be achieved in the energy used for cooling. In addition, simpler cooling systems can be used, which enables completely new applications for superconducting particle accelerators.”
Andreas Schopphoff, Head of Market Segment R&D at Pfeiffer Vacuum, explains the importance of vacuum technology for cutting-edge research: “We are pleased that our products are being used in accelerator systems to achieve new research results and to make the operation of these systems more sustainable. Advanced vacuum solutions not only enable precise experiments, but also efficient use of resources and reduction of energy consumption of these systems. With superconducting cavity resonators, particles can be accelerated very efficiently to high energies.”
DPG Accelerator Physics Working Group
The DPG Accelerator Physics Working Group (AKBP) is an association of experts in the field of accelerator physics in Germany. He is committed to the promotion and further development of accelerator physics and regularly organizes events and conferences to promote exchange between scientists, industry and politics.
