Participation in the research and development project of treatment of niobium surfaces of the Schenberg gravitational wave antenna transducers

• Grant number: 18/00423-2
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: April 01, 2018
• End date: November 30, 2019
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry - Physical-Chemistry
• Principal Investigator: Odylio Denys de Aguiar
• Grantee: Ana Beatriz Cordeiro Costa
• Host Institution: Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas Espaciais (INPE). Ministério da Ciência, Tecnologia e Inovação (Brasil). São José dos Campos , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 13/26258-4 - Superdense matter in the universe, AP.TEM

Abstract

The candidate will participate in a research and development project of treatment of niobium surfaces of Schenberg antenna transducers. More specifically, she will: a) Participate in the acidic chemical treatments of the microwave cavity surfaces of the niobium transducers of the Schenberg antenna; b) to perform, shortly after this chemical attacks, polishes with diamond pastes of these cavities in argon environment and, then, to realize the anodization of these cavities; c) to participate in the electric Q measurements of the treated surfaces, evaluating the ideal combination of the parameters of the several previous treatments in the optimization of the electric Q value. The scholarship holder will achieve the objectives mentioned above with the materials and infrastructure of INPE's printed circuit chemistry laboratory and materials and infrastructure of INPE's Gravitational Wave Laboratory (LOG), which includes a liquid helium dewar, probe and a network analyzer for electric Q measurements. (AU)