Niobium thin films are expected to be free of solid inclusions commonly seen in solid niobium. For particle accelerators, niobium thin film has the potential to replace the solid niobium in the making of the accelerating structures. In order to understand and improve the superconducting performance of niobium thin films at cryogenic temperature, an energetic vacuum deposition system has been developed to study deposition energy effects on the properties of niobium thin films on various substrates. The system directly uses microwave power to create a pure niobium plasma, which can be used to extract niobium ion flux with controllable kinetic energy for direct deposition. The ultra high vacuum avoids the gaseous inclusions in thin films. A retarding field energy analyzer is developed and used to measure the kinetic energy of niobium at the substrate location. A systematic process for thin film characterization is developed and used to analyze the niobium thin films made by this energetic condensation. The properties of niobium thin films at several deposition energies are obtained, and the results show that there exists a preferred deposition energy around 115eV. / Ph. D.

Particle accelerators are a leading tool for frontier science. Pushing that frontier further demands more machines with higher performance, and more of a very expensive technology: superconducting radio-frequency (SRF) acceleration. From a materials perspective this means reducing residual surface resistance or raising the operating temperature (currently ~2 K) of SRF cavities. Both are pursued by materials modification: nitrogen doping/infusion in the first instance and coating with Nb3Sn in the second. Materials characterization is key to achieving understanding and directing RandD. However, very little has been done. This present work aims to fill the knowledge gap and to provide needed, validated tools to the accelerator science community. In this connection, SIMS, XPS and EBSD have proven especially valuable and represent the majority of discussion in this dissertation. / Doctor of Philosophy / Particle accelerators are a powerful tool that helps us expand our knowledge of science and how the universe works. Pushing that knowledge further requires us to use more and more powerful particle accelerators. Particle accelerators are based on a very expensive technology: superconducting radio-frequency (SRF) cavities. These cavities are hollow tubes made from niobium and shaped in such a way as to cause electromagnetic waves to form. These waves are what are used to accelerate particles. The energy input and loss of energy as heat are massive resulting in millions of dollars a year in electric bills at particle accelerator facilities. In order to build bigger and more powerful particle accelerates they most be more efficient or they become prohibitively expensive. In this dissertation I look at several next generation materials used in building particle accelerators. In particular I describe and go into detail about how to characterize these materials. In other words, how we determine the materials properties and how those properties affect the performance.

Field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) have been emerging as a promising bedrock to provide opportunities for several types of accelerators that spans across various domains such as finance, web-search, and data center networking, among others. Research interests facilitating the development of accelerators on FPGAs are increasing significantly, in particular, because of their effectiveness with a variety of applications, flexibility, and high performance per watt. However, several key challenges remain that hinder their large-scale deployment. Overcoming these challenges would enable them to match the pervasiveness of graphics processor units (GPUs), their principal competitors in this arena. One of the primary reasons responsible for the slow adaptation by programmers has been the programming model, which uses a low-level hardware description language (HDL). Using HDLs require a detailed understanding of logic design and significant effort to implement and verify the behavioral models, with the latter growing with its complexity. Recent advancements in high-level language synthesis (HLS) tools have addressed this challenge to a considerable extent by allowing the programmers to write their applications in a high-level language named OpenCL. These applications are then compiled and synthesized to create a bitstream that configures the FPGA. This thesis characterizes the efficacy of HLS compiler optimizations that can be employed to improve the performance of these applications. The synthesized hardware from OpenCL kernels is fundamentally different from traditional hardware such as CPUs and GPUs, which exploit instruction level parallelism (ILP) thread level parallelism (TLP), or data level parallelism (DLP) for performance gains. FPGAs typically use deep pipelining (i.e., ILP) for performance. A stall in this pipeline may severely undermine the performance of applications. Thus, it is imperative to identify and remove any such bottlenecks. To this end, this thesis presents and discusses a software-centric framework to debug and profile the synthesized designs generated using HLS tools. This thesis proposes basic code patterns, including a timestamp and a scalable framework, which can be plugged easily into OpenCL kernels, to collect and process run-time information dynamically. This scalable framework has a small overhead for area utilization and frequency but provides fine-grained information about the bottlenecks and latencies in design. Additionally, although HLS tools have improved programmability, this may come at the cost of performance or area utilization. This thesis addresses this design trade-off via a comparative study of a hand-coded design in HDL and an architecturally similar, tool-generated design using an OpenCL compiler in the application area of 3D-stencil (i.e., structured grid) computation. Experiments in this thesis show that the performance of an OpenCL approach can achieve 95% of the peak attainable performance of a microkernel for multiple problem sizes. In comparison to the OpenCL approach, an HDL approach results in approximately 50% less memory usage and only 2% better performance on average. / MS

There is a present and future need for the medical isotope Actinium-225, currently in short supply worldwide.  Only a couple manufacturers produce it in very low quantities.  In roughly the past 10 years the medical community has explored the use of Ac-225 and its daughter Bismuth-213 for targeting a number of differing cancers by way of Targeted Alpha Therapy (TAT). This method utilizes the alpha-decay of both Ac-225 (half-life 10 days) and Bi-213 (half-life 46 min) to kill cancerous cells on a localized basis.  Maximum energy is delivered to the cancer cells thereby greatly minimizing healthy tissue damage. This research proposes a production method using a high-energy photon spectrum (generated by a linear accelerator or LINAC) to irradiate a sample of Radium-226 (half-life 1600yrs).  The photo-neutron reaction liberates neutrons from Ra-226 atoms leaving behind Radium-225 (half-life 14.7 days).  Ra-225 decays naturally through beta emission to Ac-225.  Previous research demonstrated it is possible to produce Ac-225 using a LINAC; however, very low yields resulted which questioned the feasibility of this production method.  This research proposes a number of LINAC and radium sample modifications that could be greatly increase yield amounts for practical use. Additionally, photo-neutron cross-section data for Ra-226 was used, which led to improved yield calculations for Ra-225.  A MATLAB® model was also created, which enables users to perform quick yield estimates given several key model parameter inputs.  Obtaining a sufficient supply of radium material is also of critical importance to this research.  Therefore information was gathered regarding availability and inventory of Radium-226.  This production method would serve as a way to not only eliminate many hazardous radium sources destined for interim storage, but provide a substantial supply of Ac-225 for future cancer treatment. / Master of Science

The SINDy (Sparse Identification of Non-linear Dynamics) algorithm is a method of turning a set of data representing non-linear dynamics into a much smaller set of equations comprised of non-linear functions summed together. This provides a human readable system model the represents the dynamic system analyzed. The SINDy algorithm is important for a variety of applications, including high precision industrial and robotic applications. A Hardware Accelerator was designed to decrease the time spent doing calculations. This thesis proposes an efficient hardware accelerator approach for a broad range of applications that use SINDy and similar system identification algorithms. The accelerator is leverages both systolic arrays for integrated neural network models with other numerical solvers. The novel and efficient reuse of similar processing elements allows this approach to only use a minimal footprint, so that it could be added to microcontroller devices or implemented on lower cost FPGA devices. Our proposed approach also allows the designer to offload calculations onto edge devices from controller nodes and requires less communication from those edge devices to the controller due to the reduced equation space.

The increasing application of Neural Networks (NNs) in various fields has heightened the demand for specialized hardware to enhance performance and efficiency. Field-Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) have emerged as a popular choice for implementing NN accelerators due to their flexibility, high performance, and ability to be customized for specific NN architectures. However, the trend of outsourcing Integrated Circuit (IC) design to third parties has introduced new security vulnerabilities, particularly in the form of Hardware Trojans (HTs). These malicious alterations can severely compromise the integrity and functionality of NN accelerators. Building upon this, this study investigates a novel type of HT that degrades the accuracy of Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) accelerators over time. Two variants of the attack are presented: Gradually Degrading Accuracy Trojan (GDAT) and Suddenly Degrading Accuracy Trojan (SDAT), implemented in various components of the CNN accelerator. The approach presented leverages a sensitivity analysis to identify the most impactful targets for the trojan and evaluates the attack’s effectiveness based on stealthiness, hardware overhead, and impact on accuracy.  The overhead of the attacks was found to be competitive when compared to other trojans, and has the potential to undermine trust and cause economic damages if deployed. Out of the components targeted, the memory component for the feature maps was identified as the most vulnerable to this attack, closely followed by the bias memory component. The feature map trojans resulted in a significant accuracy degradation of 78.16% with a 0.15% and 0.29% increase in Look-Up-Table (LUT) utilization for the SDAT and GDAT variants, respectively. In comparison, the bias trojans caused an accuracy degradation of 63.33% with a LUT utilization increase of 0.20% and 0.33% for the respective trojans. The power consumption overhead was consistent at 0.16% for both the attacks and trojan versions.

For precise measurement of new TeV-scale physics and precision studies of the Higgs Boson, a new lepton collider is required. To enable meaningful analysis, a centre of mass energy of 500GeV and luminosity of 10³⁴cm^-2s^-1 is needed. The planned 31km long International Linear Collider is capable of meeting these targets, requiring a final emittance of 10 micro-radians horizontally and 35nmrad vertically. To achieve these demanding emittance values, the accelerator components in the main linacs must be aligned against an accurately mapped network of reference markers along the entire tunnel. An automated system could map this tunnel network quickly, accurately, safely and repeatedly; the Linear Collider Alignment and Survey (LiCAS) Rapid Tunnel Reference Surveyor (RTRS) is a working prototype of such a system. The LiCAS RTRS is a train of measurement units that accurately locate regularly spaced retro-reflector markers using Frequency Scanning Interferometry (FSI). The unit locations with respect to each other are precisely reconstructed using a Laser Straightness Monitor (LSM) and tilt sensor system, along with a system of internal FSI lines. The design, commissioning, practical usage, calibration, and reconstruction performance of the LSM is addressed in this work. The commissioned RTRS is described and the properties of the LSM components are investigated in detail. A method of finding the position of laser beam spots on the LSM cameras is developed, along with a process of combining individual spot positions into a more robust measurement compatible with the data from other sub-systems. Laser beam propagation along the LSM is modelled and a robust method of reconstructing CCD beam spot position measurements into positions and orientations of the LSM units is described. A method of calibrating LSM units using an external witness system is presented, along with a way of using the overdetermined nature of the LSM to improve calibration constant errors by including data taken from unwitnessed runs. The reconstruction uncertainty, inclusive of both statistical and systematic effects, of the LSM system is found to be of 5.8 microns × 5.3 microns in lateral translations and 27.6 microradians × 34.1 microradians in rotations perpendicular to the beam, with an uncertainty of 51.1 microradians in rotations around the beam coming from a tilt-sensor arrangement.

Aux futurs collisionneurs linéaires et circulaires, la présence d’un halo autour du faisceau est susceptible de fortement limiter les performances, et peut également activer, voire endommager, les composants de l’accélérateur. Le halo doit par conséquent est contrôlé par un système de collimateurs efficace. Pour évaluer l’impact sur les expériences de physique des particules ainsi que les efficacités de collimation, une bonne compréhension des mécanismes physiques générateurs de halo est essentielle, pour par exemple prédire les distributions de probabilité de manière fiable. Pour ce faire, une investigation systématique ont été menée à l’Accelerator Test Facility (ATF) du KEK dans le cadre de cette thèse, d’abord à travers une analyse théorique des principales sources de halo dans ATF, puis moyennant le développement et l’implémentation de diagnostiques dédiés aux mesures du halo, dont les résultat sont ensuite présentés et comparés aux prédictions théoriques. Le halo produit par la diffusion des particules du faisceau sur les noyaux des molécules du gaz résiduel dans la chambre à vide (« Beam Gas Scattering » - BGS) est d’abord estimé analytiquement, avec certaines approximations, puis moyennant une simulation Monte-Carlo. Un nombre considérable de particules de halo BGS est prédit, ainsi qu’une dépendance dans la pression de gaz résiduel. Pour étudier la possible formation d’un halo par le mécanisme de diffusion intra-paquet à grand angle dit de « Touschek » en présence d’une dispersion optique résiduelle, le taux de cette diffusion a été estimé en fonction de plusieurs paramètres faisceau pertinents. Une simulation Monte-Carlo de la diffusion intra-faisceau à petit angle (IBS) et de « Touschek » est aussi en cours de développement. Pour tester les prédictions théoriques, les performances d’un détecteur de halo déjà existant basé sur un capteur diamant ont été améliorées moyennant une technique de repondération qui a permis d’en augmenter la gamme dynamique jusqu’à 10⁵. Afin de disposer d’un instrument complémentaire pour mesurer le halo, un moniteur YAG/OTR a aussi été conçu, construit et installé dans la ligne d’extraction d’ATF. Il a pu être montré que la gamme dynamique et la résolution de ce moniteur YAGOTR sont, respectivement, autour de 10⁵ et inférieure à 10 μm. Grâce aux diagnostiques développés pour mesurer le halo du faisceau d’ATF, les distributions transverses et en énergie ont pu être étudiées. L’accord satisfaisant obtenu entre les prédictions théoriques et les mesures, ainsi qu’une dépendance importante dans la pression de gaz résiduel, ont permis de montrer que la distribution verticale du halo est dominée par le mécanisme BGS. Par contre, la distribution horizontale est bien supérieure aux prédictions BGS, et est par ailleurs asymétrique. L’asymétrie observée peut être en partie reliée à la qualité du champ de l’élément pulsé servant à l’extraction du faisceau d’ATF, ainsi qu’à certaines aberrations dans le transport optique. La distribution de probabilité du halo en fonction de l’énergie a par ailleurs pu être mesurée, grâce à une technique nouvelle d’ajustement de la dispersion optique dans le plan vertical, et a été trouvée compatible qualitativement avec le mécanisme de diffusion « Touschek ». Un scénario plausible de génération du halo dans le plan horizontal a ainsi pu être suggéré. / At future linear and circular colliders, beam halo can strongly limit machine performances, cause as well component damage and activation, and should, therefore, be controlled by an efficient collimation system. To evaluate the impact on particle physics experiments and collimation efficiencies, a clear understanding of beam halo formation mechanisms is essential, e.g., to predict halo distribution reliably. For this purpose, systematic investigations have been carried out at the Accelerator Test Facility (ATF) of KEK. In this dissertation, the theoretical analysis of the primary halo sources at ATF and the development of dedicated halo diagnostics are presented. Measurements of beam halo at ATF are also described and compared with the theoretical predictions. Beam halo arising from Beam-Gas Scattering (BGS) in the damping ring was firstly estimated through analytical approximations and a Monte Carlo simulation. A considerable amount of halo particles generated by BGS and the corresponding vacuum dependence have been predicted. To explore the probability of beam halo formation from Touschek scattering in the presence of dispersion, the Touschek scattering rate was estimated with respect to relevant beam parameters. Furthermore, a Monte Carlo simulation of Intra-Beam Scattering (IBS) and Touschek scattering is under development. To probe the theoretical predictions, the performance of an already existing diamond sensor detector was optimized via a data rescaling technique to increase the dynamic range to 1×10⁵. For a complementary diagnostics of beam halo, a YAG/OTR monitor was also designed and installed in the extraction section of ATF2. The dynamic range and resolution of the YAG/OTR monitor have been shown to be around 1×10⁵ and less than 10 μm, respectively. Thanks to the halo monitors developed at ATF2, the transverse halo and momentum tail have been studied. Satisfactory agreement between numerical predictions and measurements as well as a significant vacuum dependence indicate that the BGS process dominates the vertical halo. On the other hand, the horizontal halo appeared to be higher than the prediction from BGS, and moreover asymmetric. The observed asymmetry was shown to be related to the quality of the extraction kicker field and optical aberration. Finally, the momentum tail was for the first time observed by implementing a novel scheme of vertical dispersion adjustment and was found to be qualitatively consistent with the presence of Touschek scattering. A possible scenario for horizontal beam halo formation from Touschek scattering was also suggested.

Afin d'étudier la faisabilité de la technologie ADS (« Accelerator Driven System ») pour la transmutation des déchets hautement radiotoxiques le projet MYRRHA (« Multi-purpose hYbrid Research Reactor for High-tech Applications ») a pour objectif la construction d'un démonstrateur de réacteur hybride (50 à 100 MWth). Pour cela le réacteur sous-critique nécessite un accélérateur de forte puissance délivrant un faisceau continu de protons (600 MeV, 4mA), avec une exigence de fiabilité très élevée. La solution de référence retenue pour cette machine est un accélérateur linéaire supraconducteur. Ce mémoire de thèse décrit le travail de recherche - entrepris depuis octobre 2008 à l'IPN d'Orsay - portant sur la conception et la mise au point d'un module supraconducteur et des systèmes de régulation associés à sa cavité accélératrice, pour la partie haute énergie de l’accélérateur. Dans un premier temps, le design et l’optimisation de cavités accélératrices 5-cellules (β=0,65), fonctionnant à la fréquence de 704,4 MHz, sont présentés. Ensuite, la partie expérimentale se concentre sur l’étude de fiabilité du « cryomodule » prototype accueillant une cavité elliptique 5-cellules (β=0,47). Au cours de cette étude on s’est notamment attaché à mesurer et à caractériser le comportement dynamique du système d’accord. Les problématiques de maintient du « plat de champ » dans les cavités multi-cellules « bas béta » ont aussi été mises en évidence. Enfin, une analyse sur la tolérance aux pannes de l’accélérateur linéaire a été menée. Dans ce but, une modélisation de la cavité, de sa boucle de régulation RF (radiofréquence) et de la boucle de contrôle de son système d'accord, a été développée afin d'étudier les comportements transitoires de cet ensemble. Cette étude a permis de chiffrer les besoins en puissance RF et les performances requises du système d’accord et de démontrer la faisabilité d’un réglage rapides des cavités supraconductrices afin de minimiser le nombre d’arrêts faisceau dans le linac de MYRRHA. / The MYRRHA ( Multi-purpose hYbrid Research Reactor for High-tech Applications ) project aims at constructing an accelerator driven system (ADS) demonstrator (50 à 100 MWth) to explore the feasibility of nuclear waste transmutation. Such a subcritical reactor requires an extremely reliable accelerator which delivers a CW high power protons beam (600 MeV, 4 mA). The reference solution for this machine is a superconducting linear accelerator. This thesis presents the work - undertaken at IPN Orsay in October 2008 - on the study of a prototypical superconducting module and the feedback control systems of its cavity for the high energy part of the MYRRHA linac. First, the optimization and the design of 5-cell elliptical cavities (β=0,65), operating at 704.4 MHz, are presented. Then, the experimental work focuses on a reliability oriented study of the “cryomodule” which hold a prototypical 5-cell cavity (β=0,47). In this study, the dynamic behavior of the fast tuning system of the cavity was measured and qualified. The “field flatness” issue in “low beta” multi-cell cavity was also brought to light. Finally, a fault-tolerance analysis of the linac was carried out. Toward this goal, a model of the cavity, its RF feedback loop system and its tuning system feedback loop was developed. This study enabled to determine the RF power needs, the tuning system requirements and as well as to demonstrate the feasibility of fast fault-recovery scenarios to minimize the number of beam interruptions in the MYRRHA linac.

This cumulative dissertation includes three papers and one teaching case study. Together, they focus on topics highlighting the distinctiveness of family firms and new ventures. While the first paper analyzes the academic debate over the familiness concept in family firm research, the second paper focuses on explaining the unique relational dynamics between family and non-family managers in top management teams. The third paper aims to derive design designs for family firm specific corporate accelerators. The teaching case study shows how a growing new venture may strike a balance between coping with increasing organizational complexity and maintaining its distinct entrepreneurial spirit.