The world's largest niobium mine in Araxá, Brazil.

A conveyor leads to a processing plant at the Araxá niobium mine.

On 30 October to 1 November, the Single Crystal Niobium Technology Workshop will bring engineers, scientists and technicians together at the site of the world's largest niobium mine in Araxá, Brazil – an event that may be unique for accelerator history. The workshop will explore the manufacturing of large grain or single crystal niobium, a potentially cost-saving direction for superconducting radiofrequency (SRF) cavity technology.

Large grain or single crystal niobium may potentially reduce accelerator capital costs by eliminating certain expensive cavity surface treatments (See ILC NewsLine, 13 July 2006).

The workshop will be a forum for discussion on the current status of the technology for producing 280 mm diameter niobium single crystal ingots for large-scale high gradient applications of SRF linacs, such as the ILC.

The tentative program calls for presentations and discussions in four main topic areas: the basics of single crystal technology, reports from the laboratories, reports from niobium-producing companies on industrial capabilities, and discussion of future work, all leading to a "road map" for future plans. The field's leading laboratories and companies will be represented.

The workshop will be held mainly at the Ouro Minas Grande Hotel, but it is very important to book hotel rooms through Ariana Machado, the meeting coordinator with the organisation Enjoy Turismo, at (55 11) 3896-0324; Pabx: (55 11) 3896-0322; fax: (55 11) 3086-2474. Only a few workshop places are left for attendees. Please register by 15 August. The registration fee is $500. Contact either camp@jlab.org or rao@jlab.org for more information.

-- Ganapati Myneni, Jefferson Lab