Exploiting new electrochemical understanding of niobium electropolishing for improved performance of SRF cavities for CEBAF

Recent incorporation of analytic electrochemistry into the development of protocols for electropolishing niobium SRF cavities has yielded new insights for optimizing this process for consistent, high-performance results. Use of reference electrodes in the electrolyte, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), rotating disk electrodes (RDE), and controlled sample temperatures has greatly clarified the process dynamics over the empirical understanding developed via years of practice. Minimizing RF losses at high operational gradients is very valuable for CW linacs. Jefferson Lab is applying these new insights to the low-loss 7-cell cavity design developed for the CEBAF 12 GeV Upgrade. Together with controlled cleaning and assembly techniques to guard against field-emission-causing particulates, the resulting process is yielding consistent cavity performance that exceeds project requirements. Cavity tests show BCS-limited Q well above 30 MV/m. Detailed process data, interpretation, and resulting rf performance data will be presented.