A Ferroelectric Fast Reactive Tuner for Superconducting Cavities

A prototype FerroElectric Fast Reactive Tuner (FE-FRT) for superconducting cavities has been developed, which allows the frequency to be controlled by application of a potential difference across a ferroelectric residing within the tuner. This technique has now become practically feasible due to the recent development of a new extremely low loss ferroelectric material. In a world first, CERN has tested the prototype FE-FRT with a superconducting cavity, and frequency tuning has been successfully demonstrated. This is a significant first step in the development of an entirely new class of tuner. These will allow electronic control of cavity frequencies, by a device operating at room temperature, within timescales that will allow active compensation of microphonics. For many applications this could eliminate the need to use over-coupled fundamental power couplers, thus significantly reducing RF amplifier power.