What was the focus of your PhD research? Can you explain it to a non-scientific audience?
The focus of my PhD was the development of a process to coat metallic surfaces with a high-temperature superconducting (HTS) layer for applications in high-energy physics. The method is based on industrially-available HTS tapes. For example, these coatings could help stabilize the particle beam in the Future Circular Collider (FCC) and increase the sensitivity of cavities designed to test the existence of the axion, a hypothetical particle that could explain dark matter.
Can you briefly summarize the main findings or contributions of your research? You can give us some examples.
The main contribution of my work is the development of the coating process described above. Key findings include the improvement in the quality factor obtained by coating cavities with this method, particularly in the RADES axion haloscope and the high-fieldgradient disk from SLAC. We also gained insight into the mechanical and thermal handling of HTS tapes, including soldering them onto target surfaces, and determining their critical bending radius. The process was further automated to enhance reproducibility and scalability. Finally, I contributed to new characterization approaches for HTS coatings, such as correlating optical microscopy with scanning Hall probe microscopy.
Why do you think your research is important, and how could it impact your field or society?
This work is one of the first steps toward showing that HTS can be used for high-field, high-temperature radio-frequency applications. This could reduce cooling costs compared to low-temperature superconductors (LTS) and enable operation at higher magnetic fields.
What was one of the most challenging aspects of your PhD journey, and how did you overcome it?
One of the hardest parts was dealing with experimental frustration: having high expectations for something to work, seeing it fail with no clear reason, and only understanding why much later. Paperwork was also challenging, especially at the start and end of the PhD.
Why did you end up at ICMAB? And what do you think you will miss the most from this institute?
The people. It’s a large institute with many young, intelligent researchers and a great atmosphere. I’m also grateful for the collaborations with top-level institutes such as CERN, the Max Planck Institute, and Stanford, as well as for the people I met at summer schools and conferences. Finally, I truly value all the science I had the chance to learn both through my work and during these events.
What’s next for you after completing your PhD? Do you have any upcoming projects or goals?
I might take a break from superconductivity. I wouldn’t like to confine myself to a single topic; I prefer to keep a broad view of science and apply my skills in different areas, to keep it interesting. I’m currently looking for positions in scientific software development, AI research, and quantitative finance.
How has completing this PhD changed you, either professionally or personally?
I built resilience. I learned how to manage work relationships, and I got a better understanding of how working life actually functions, and with that, a better understanding of the world we live in. I also learned to draw a clearer line between work and hobbies.
What advice would you give to someone just starting their PhD journey?
Leave while you can! Just kidding. I would say: maintain a good balance with your life outside of the lab. Be proactive about what you want to get out of the PhD, both content-wise and timewise, because if you don’t, other people will decide that for you. Set your boundaries (for example, not working on weekends) and make them clear to others, and especially to yourself.
Why did you become a scientist? Which have been your role models that inspired you to pursue a PhD?
I didn’t really have role models. I already considered myself a scientist before the PhD. For as long as I can remember, I’ve believed that the scientific method is the most trustworthy way to find answers, and I have always had a lot of questions. Doing a PhD was simply a way to get paid to do what I like: satisfying my scientific curiosity.
Who or what helped you the most during your PhD journey, and is there anyone you'd like to thank?
Definitely my friends at ICMAB, who shared both the problems and the good moments with me, and were always there to listen and support. I would also like to thank my family and my partner for their constant emotional support.
Neil Lamas at ICMAB garden on the day of his thesis | ICMAB-CSIC
Abstract
This work focuses on the development of a High-Temperature Superconductor (HTS) coating process based on soldering and delamination of REBCO Coated Conductors (CCs). Originally aimed at increasing beam stability for the Future Circular Collider (FCC), the method was further applied to increase the sensitivity of axion dark-matter detectors and the efficiency of accelerating cavities. In parallel, a High-Performance Computing (HPC) simulation tool for HTS was experimentally assessed for both in-field cooling and AC losses of CCs.
The coating process was optimized for low surface resistance, strong adhesion to prevent detachment under Lorentz forces, and Ultra High Vacuum (UHV) compatibility. Characterization combined Scanning Hall-Probe Microscopy (SHPM), Dielectric Resonators (up to 16 T, 8 GHz), and SEM-EDX correlations, enabling fast optical-based evaluation of produced coatings.
The process achieved a fourfold increase in quality factor at 11 T in the RADES haloscope and a tenfold surface-resistance reduction for SLAC’s high-field-gradient disk compared to copper. Automation with IFAE demonstrated industrial scalability.
Supervisors
- Teresa Puig Molina, ICMAB-CSIC, Spain
- Joffre Gutiérrez Royo, ICMAB-CSIC, Spain
- Xavier Granados García, ICMAB-CSIC, Spain
PhD Committee
- President: Daniel Gallart Escola, BSC, Spain
- Secretary: Miquel Carrera Vilanova, Universitat de Lleida, Spain
- Vocal: Laura Segui Iglesia, Universidad de Zaragoza, Spain
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ICMAB - Neil Lamas will defend his PhD thesis on 23 October 2025
