Launching of Series Fabrication of the LHC Main Quadrupoles

A collaboration agreement between CERN and CEA-Saclay resulted in the successful development and construction of prototypes of the LHC main superconducting quadrupole magnets and their assembly into cold masses. A call for tender was issued in October 1999 and led to the adjudication of a contract to ACCEL Instruments. A number of components will be provided by CERN to be used either directly by ACCEL for integration into the cold mass units or by sub-suppliers before delivery to ACCEL. During the series fabrication CEA's engineers and technicians, already experienced from their prototype work, will ensure the technology transfer and the technical follow up in the factory. ACCEL had to adapt two large fabrication halls to the needs of the magnet fabrication and the cold mass assembly. Procedures for a tight quality assurance and the logistics for the timely supply of components and a high production rate are being established in close collaboration by the three parties concerned

Performance of the single and twin-aperture models of the 6 kA superconducting quadrupole for the LHC insertions

The LHC dispersion suppressors and matching sections will be equipped with individually powered superconducting quadrupoles with an aperture of 56 mm. In order to optimise the parameters and cost of the magnets and of their powering, the quadrupole has been designed on the basis of an 8.2 mm wide Rutherford-type cable for a nominal current of 5300 A, corresponding to a gradient of 200 T/m at 1.9 K. In order to validate the design two 1-m single-aperture quadrupoles and one twin-aperture quadrupole have been built and tested. In this report we describe the construction features of the magnets and present the results of the magnet tests. (4 refs)