Testing and characterization of surface treatment techniques for enhancing the HV performance of kickers

Accelerator kicker magnets, which commonly use ferrite and other insulating materials, can encounter High Voltage (HV) performance limitations due to interactions with the particle beam. These interactions, can lead to electron cloud buildup and charging phenomena on exposed surfaces, negatively impacting kicker performance, particularly at high beam intensities. To mitigate these effects, surface treatment techniques are investigated to improve the HV kicker performance under such conditions. A dedicated set-up is under development to perform HV testing of treated surfaces in both ambient and in vacuum conditions, closely simulating operational conditions. This paper presents insights into the effects of these surface treatments on material properties, supporting strategies to enhance HV kicker reliability at higher beam intensities.