Accelerating Innovation: Advanced Manufacturing for Particle Accelerators

Duration: 1 hr 51 mins
Publication date: 20 Nov 2025

Abstract

Join us for an online event hosted by the Institute of Engineering and Technology’s Particle Accelerator Engineering Technical Network, bringing together engineers and technicians from across the accelerator community to explore the latest developments in advanced manufacturing for particle accelerators.

World-leading mechanical engineers will present cutting-edge techniques and innovations in the design and production of accelerator components, sharing practical insights into new processes, materials, and technologies shaping the future of the field.

This is an opportunity to learn from experts at the forefront of accelerator engineering, exchange knowledge with peers, and discover how emerging manufacturing methods are driving performance, reliability, and efficiency in one of the world’s most challenging engineering domains.

Speakers

- Alan Saillet
- Dr. Reza Valizadeh
- Dr. Wenbin Zhong
- Tim Mitchell
- Luke Farley
- Daniel Morris
- Prof. Amin Abdolvand
- Richard Farrow

11:00 Intro
11:10 Bulk-Machined Seamless Single-Cell Copper Elliptical Cavities, Alan Saillet
11:30 Synthesis of functional thin film coatings for accelerators, Dr. Reza Valizadeh
11:50 On-machine surface measurement for ultra-precision 5-axis machines, Dr. Wenbin Zhong
12:10 TWI, Tim Mitchell

13:30 High Precision Laser Surface Structuring for Reduction of Secondary Electron Yield, Prof. Amin Abdolvand

13:50 Mass production of magnetrons, Daniel Morris

14:10 3-D printing clam shells, Luke Farley

14:30 How UK companies can get involved at CERN, Richard Farrow

14:50 Close

Keywords:: Accelerating Innovation

Advanced manufacturing for particle accelerators

World-leading mechanical engineers

accelerator engineering

challenging engineering domains.

cutting-edge techniques and innovations

design and production of accelerator components

emerging manufacturing methods

shaping the future of the field

Channels

Communications

Lectures

Speakers

Professor Amin Abdolvand

University of Dundee, Chair of Functional Materials & Photonics

Professor Amin Abdolvand is Chair of Functional Materials & Photonics and Head of the Biomedical & Mechanical Engineering Division at the University of Dundee.A Fellow of the Institute of Physics and Senior Member of Optica, he is recognised for pioneering research in precision laser–matter interactions and advanced surface engineering. He leads the development of laser-engineered surface structuring (LESS) - a high-precision laser technology that dramatically reduces secondary electron yield (SEY) in accelerator components. In collaboration with CERN, his work underpins the implementation of insitu laser treatments for electron-cloud mitigation in the High-Luminosity LHC (HL-LHC).Beyond accelerator applications, his research extends to laser nanofabrication and functional materials for photonics, sensing, and energy technologies.
Dr Wenbin Zhong

University of Huddersfield, Senior Research Fellow

Dr. Wenbin Zhong obtained his PhD in ultra-precision machining at the University of Strathclyde in 2018. Following the PhD, he joined the EPSRC Future Metrology Hub at the University of Huddersfield as a Research Fellow, earning a promotion to Senior Research Fellow in May 2023. His research often involves tackling complex ultra-precision manufacturing challenges, including the prototyping of the disc for CERN's Compact Linear Collider (CLIC), and a mirror for European Space Agency's (ESA) Mars Rover project.
Dr Reza Valizadeh

STFC ASTeC, Senior Material and Surface Scientist

Dr Valizadeh leads the thin film and surface characterization programs at Vacuum solution group in ASTeC. His scientific and R&D programs is focused on engineering surfaces and materials used in particle accelerators to enhance their capability through higher luminosity, higher energy while operating at lower and sustainable cost or finding solutions to mitigate existing performance limiting problems. His R&D investigation span over variety discipline such as surface modification  and characterisation, synthesis of functional thin film for Photocathode for accelerators, SRF thin film for RF cavity, NEG coating for extreme high vacuum, Low SEY surfaces for low PSD and ESD.He has over 35 years of experience in thin film synthesis and since 2001, he has extensively studied non-evaporable getter as thin film to achieve extreme high vacuum. His study resulted in lowering the activation temperature from originally reported 180 °C to 150 °C by introducing quaternary alloy of TiZrVHf, using NEG as a hydrogen barrier by adopting triple layer of nitride, dense and columnar NEG, adding high conductive material such as gold, silver, copper and alumina to reduce NEG surface resistance and using single elements in highly columnar structure that can perform as good as ternary alloy NEG.
Luke Farley

Cockcroft Institute at Daresbury Laboratory, Mechanical Engineer

Luke Farley is a Mechanical Engineer working for the Cockcroft Institute at Daresbury Laboratory. He currently works on both the LHC High-Luminosity (HL-LHC) project - supporting the build of STFC’s first Double Quarter Wave (DQW) Crab Cavity Cryomodule, and the US Electron Ion Collider (EIC). He specialises in additive manufacturing for novel applications. Most recently he has been working on the design, manufacturing and optimisation of 3D printed vacuum enclosures for helium leak testing of vacuum and cryogenic welds.
Tim Mitchell

TWI, Principal Welding Engineer

Tim Mitchell (TWI), CEng, PhD, BEng, MWeldI, is a Principal Welding Engineer in the Power Beam Processes (PBP) section with over two decades of experience delivering R&D programmes and production of prototype components for various industries such as aerospace and nuclear. Expert in aspects of EB Welding and machine design. Covering maintenance, weld procedure development and qualification. Including novel welding of ferrous and non-ferrous materials, and reactive and refractory metal welding.
Alain Saillet

CERN, Mechanical Fabrication Engineer

Alan Saillet is a Mechanical Fabrication Engineer at CERN, specializing in advanced manufacturing for high-precision components used in particle accelerators. His work focuses on developing innovative CAM and CNC solutions that combine computational geometry, metrology, and automation to enhance machining accuracy and efficiency.
Dr Daniel Morris

Teledyne E2v, Senior Product Engineer

Daniel Morris is a Senior Product Engineer with over 10 years of manufacturing experience and more than three years at Teledyne E2v, specializing in Magnetron engineering. He combines technical expertise with strategic insight to drive innovation and performance.
Richard Farrow

STFC, UK Head of Industrial Liaison

Richard Farrow is the UK Head of Industrial Liaison for STFC’s International Research Infrastructures. Whilst an electronic engineer by training, his career since the 1980’s has spanned roles in areas such as technology innovation, business support, product manufacturing, strategy development and scientific research. He has formed and led teams in universities, large commercial organisations, start-up SMEs and government funded ‘big-science’ research. His central focus in all these roles has been the ambition to create UK value by catalysing partnerships between academic research and industrial manufacture. Presently, Richard is working to engage UK industry in ‘big science’ projects around the world.

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