Electrochemical system and method for electropolishing superconductive radio frequency cavities

A method for electropolishing a superconductive radio frequency cavity comprising the steps of:

• positioning an electrode within a superconductive radio frequency cavity, wherein said superconductive radio frequency cavity comprises niobium or niobium alloy, and wherein said superconductive radio frequency cavity comprises a hollow body of variable internal diameter;
• orienting said hollow body of the superconductive radio frequency cavity vertically, with the electrode oriented vertically therein;
• entirely filling said superconductive radio frequency cavity with an electrolyte solution comprising aqueous sulfuric acid and being devoid of hydrofluoric acid and having a viscosity less than 15 cP;
• passing an electric current between said superconductive radio frequency cavity and said electrode, wherein said electric current is comprised of a plurality of anodic pulses and a plurality of cathodic pulses, and wherein said cathodic pulses are interposed between at least some of said anodic pulses;
• and
• retaining said superconductive radio frequency cavity in a stationary position during said passing an electric current step.

A method for electropolishing a superconductive radio frequency cavity comprising the steps of:

• positioning an electrode within a superconductive radio frequency cavity, wherein said superconductive radio frequency cavity comprises niobium or niobium alloy, and wherein said superconductive radio frequency cavity comprises a bulbous, hollow body;
• orienting said bulbous, hollow body of the superconductive radio frequency cavity vertically, with the electrode oriented vertically therein;
• entirely filling said superconductive radio frequency cavity with an electrolyte solution comprising aqueous sulfuric acid and being devoid of hydrofluoric acid and having a viscosity less than 15 cP said electrolyte solution from an electrolyte supply tank;
• passing an electric current between said superconductive radio frequency cavity and said electrode, wherein said electric current is comprised of a plurality of anodic pulses and a plurality of cathodic pulses, and wherein said cathodic pulses are interposed between at least some of said anodic pulses;
• retaining said superconductive radio frequency cavity in a stationary position during said passing an electric current step;
• and
• adjusting a flow of said electrolyte solution during said passing an electric current step from an electrolyte supply tank by introducing said electrolyte solution into said superconductive radio frequency cavity through a bottom thereof and expelling said electrolyte solution from said superconductive radio frequency cavity through a top thereof.