Atlas Aluminum and Bimetallic Particle Physics Solutions

“We worked with Atlas Technologies to build a series of X and Y-shaped aluminum bending magnet vacuum chambers for an electron cooling system, which cools relativistic antiprotons at Fermilab. These UHV chambers enable the introduction of electrons to the antiproton beam and the extraction of the electrons from the beam after cooling. In electron cooling, beams of electrons and antiprotons circulate together at the same speed. The “colder” electrons interact with the “hotter” antiprotons and cool the beam of antiprotons in the same way that hot gas is cooled when it is mixed with cold gas. Fermilab was the first lab to demonstrate e-cooling at high energies, operating the electron beam at 4.3 MeV. Atlas made the chambers in two halves machined from thick plates of aluminum. Then they welded them together and attached Atlas CF flanges to the legs. All the chambers have performed very well, met our specifications and they were beautiful!”

Sergei Nagaitsev
Deputy Director
Fermilab ILC Program

The Aluminum vacuum revolution has started — In a remote corner of Washington State, in the rain shadow of the Olympic Peninsula, nestled along Puget Sound, Atlas Technologies has been driven to think beyond the convention of stainless steel.  

First with the invention of the robust all-metal-seal Atlas CF flange and the Atlas ATCR fitting, Atlas made aluminum high and ultra high vacuum possible. Next, Atlas took on welding and surface preparation challenges.  Now with Atlas’ advanced UHV grade aluminum welds and surface oxide densification technology Atlas’ aluminum vacuum chambers can easily outperform stainless chambers in any vacuum regime at a lower cost.  It is time to say goodbye to stainless steel and think in aluminum.

Lower cost?  Yes, the larger the chamber the better.  Aluminum is half the price of stainless, machines 5 times faster and is 1/3 the weight.  It also has lower outgassing and diffusion rates than stainless steel.  This means better vacuum at lower prices when you think in aluminum.

There are five basic aluminum chamber configurations to choose from.  Select the configuration that fits your need.  Atlas offers full engineering support, FEA services and solid modeling design that capitalize upon the exceptional physical and vacuum properties of aluminum. Atlas will help you get the most out of aluminum.  Since we already do — let us help you think in aluminum.