Field emission from laser-processed niobium (110) single crystals

Niobium is a technologically important material, which is typically used for superconducting radio-frequency applications. Superconductive cavities made of niobium require contamination-free and smooth surfaces to ensure the best performance of a particle accelerator. Interior surfaces of niobium cavities are usually obtained by centrifugal barrel polishing, buffered chemical polishing, and electropolishing or a combination of these methods. However, a standard inspection of the inner cavity surface after the treatment still shows the presence of sharp features limiting cavity performance. Laser polishing is a potential alternative or can be used as an additional final step for a more efficient surface treatment toward higher electric field gradients. In the present study, a chemically polished (110)-oriented single crystal niobium surface was processed with a focused pulsed laser with a pulse duration of 3.5 ns and a repetition rate of 10 Hz. The laser fluence and the number of pulses were varied in the range from 0.68 up to 4.27 J/cm^{2} and from 20 up to 200, respectively. The magnitude of laser-induced surface structures and boiling traces was systematically studied by means of scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, and optical profilometry. Finally, the local field emission behavior was investigated and correlated with the observed surface modifications. Typical current-field characteristics and a field enhancement statistic of laser-processed areas are presented in the study. The surface processing with a rather low laser fluence of 0.68 J/cm^{2} yielded high onset electric fields of 650–940 MV/m with field enhancement factors below 10. The processing with a higher laser fluence and/or a higher number of pulses resulted in boiledlike structures emitting at 70–190 MV/m