Standardization of the Experimental Methodology for Quality Assurance and Quality Control (QA - QC) of the CLIC Structural Materials

Abstract

The main linear accelerators (linacs) of the Compact LInear Collider (CLIC) are constituted of sequential two-beam modules (of approximate length of two meters). The CLIC linacs need to be firmly stabilized on their supports with a micron-level requirement, essential for maintaining the final target luminosity close to the required XXX value. Real scale two-beam prototype modules have been designed, manufactured and commissioned to study their behaviour under different operation modes and experimental conditions. The CLIC machine will work for continuous runs under conditions of high radiation background. The structural materials of the systems of the accelerator have to sustain the significant fatigue and activation due to the radiation, generated mainly by the losses of the particle beam. Extensive testing has taken place with a combination of mechanical experiments and irradiation sessions on samples of structural materials, focusing on the micro-precise CLIC module supporting system. The followed experimentally strategy was standardized in a series of sequential steps.