About the damage mechanisms of thin targets exposed to high-power particle beams

Abstract

Thin targets, in the forms of wires, stripes, or foils, are often used in accelerators to measure the properties of particle beams. Motivations for a small thickness, typically between several and hundred micrometers, are diverse. The minuscule diameter of a wire allows for precision measurement because it is probing a small fraction of the beam’s transverse profile. In case of high-power beams, the important rationale is also a small energy which beam deposits in the target and a good cooling because of a large surface-to-volume ratio. In certain beam conditions, the temperature of the target is still very high and leads to wire damage. This paper presents detailed analysis of ductile breakage of a molybdenum wire and gives a short overview of other damage mechanisms for various materials.