Finite Element Model of Training in the superconducting quadrupole magnet SQ02

This paper describes the use of 3D finite element models to study training in superconducting magnets. The simulations are used to examine coil displacements when the electromagnetic forces are cycled, and compute the frictional energy released during conductor motion with the resulting temperature rise. A computed training curve is then presented and discussed. The results from the numerical computations are compared with test results of the Nb{sub 3}Sn racetrack quadrupole magnet SQ02

LIMITS OF Nb3Sn ACCELERATOR MAGNETS

Pushing accelerator magnets beyond 10 T holds a promise of future upgrades to machines like the Tevatron at Fermilab and the LHC at CERN. Exceeding the current density limits of NbTi superconductor, Nb{sub 3}Sn is at present the only practical superconductor capable of generating fields beyond 10 T. Several Nb{sub 3}Sn pilot magnets, with fields as high as 16 T, have been built and tested, paving the way for future attempts at fields approaching 20 T. High current density conductor is required to generate high fields with reduced conductor volume. However this significantly increases the Lorentz force and stress. Future designs of coils and structures will require managing stresses of several 100's of MPa and forces of 10's of MN/m. The combined engineering requirements on size and cost of accelerator magnets will involve magnet technology that diverges from the one currently used with NbTi conductor. In this paper we shall address how far the engineering of high field magnets can be pushed, and what are the issues and limitations before such magnets can be used in particle accelerators

TowardsComputing Ratcheting and Training in Superconducting Magnets

The Superconducting Magnet Group at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) has been developing 3D finite element models to predict the behavior of high field Nb{sub 3}Sn superconducting magnets. The models track the coil response during assembly, cool-down, and excitation, with particular interest on displacements when frictional forces arise. As Lorentz forces were cycled, irreversible displacements were computed and compared with strain gauge measurements. Additional analysis was done on the local frictional energy released during magnet excitation, and the resulting temperature rise. Magnet quenching and training was correlated to the level of energy release during such mechanical displacements under frictional forces. We report in this paper the computational results of the ratcheting process, the impact of friction, and the path-dependent energy release leading to a computed magnet training curve

Age-dependent effects of microglial inhibition in vivo on Alzheimer’s disease neuropathology using bioactive-conjugated iron oxide nanoparticles

Background: Tau dysfunction is believed to be the primary cause of neurodegenerative disorders referred to as tauopathies, including Alzheimer’s disease, Pick’s disease, frontotemporal dementia and Parkinsonism. The role of microglial cells in the pathogenesis of tauopathies is still unclear. The activation of microglial cells has been correlated with neuroprotective effects through the release of neurotrophic factors and through clearance of cell debris and phagocytosis of cells with intracellular inclusions. In contrast, microglial activation has also been linked with chronic neuroinflammation contributing to the development of neurodegenerative diseases such as tauopathies. Microglial activation has been recently reported to precede tangle formation and the attenuation of tau pathology occurs after immunosuppression of transgenic mice. Methods: Here we report the specific inhibition of microglial cells in rTg4510 tau-mutant mice by using fibrin γ377-395 peptide conjugated to iron oxide (γ-Fe2O3) nanoparticles of 21 ± 3.5 nm diameter. Results: Stabilization of the peptide by its covalent conjugation to the γ-Fe2O3 nanoparticles significantly decreased the number of the microglial cells compared to the same concentration of the free peptide. The specific microglial inhibition induces different effects on tau pathology in an age dependent manner. The reduction of activation of microglial cells at an early age increases the number of neurons with hyperphosphorylated tau in transgenic mice. In contrast, reduction of activation of microglial cells reduced the severity of the tau pathology in older mice. The number of neurons with hyperphosphorylated tau and the number of neurons with tangles are reduced than those in animals not receiving the fibrin γ377-395 peptide-nanoparticle conjugate. Conclusions: These results demonstrate a differential effect of microglial activity on tau pathology using the fibrin γ377-395 peptide-nanoparticle conjugate, depending on age and/or stage of the neuropathological accumulation and aggregation

Scaling of Horizontal and Vertical Fixational Eye Movements

Eye movements during fixation of a stationary target prevent the adaptation of the photoreceptors to continuous illumination and inhibit fading of the image. These random, involuntary, small, movements are restricted at long time scales so as to keep the target at the center of the field of view. Here we use the Detrended Fluctuation Analysis (DFA) in order to study the properties of fixational eye movements at different time scales. Results show different scaling behavior between horizontal and vertical movements. When the small ballistics movements, i.e. micro-saccades, are removed, the scaling exponents in both directions become similar. Our findings suggest that micro-saccades enhance the persistence at short time scales mostly in the horizontal component and much less in the vertical component. This difference may be due to the need of continuously moving the eyes in the horizontal plane, in order to match the stereoscopic image for different viewing distance.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figure

RRP Nb3Sn strand studies for LARP

The Nb{sub 3}Sn strand chosen for the next step in the magnet R&D of the U.S. LHC Accelerator Research Program is the 54/61 sub-element Restacked Rod Process by Oxford Instruments, Superconducting Technology. To ensure that the 0.7 mm RRP strands to be used in the upcoming LARP magnets are suitable, extensive studies were performed. Measurements included the critical current, {sub e}, using the voltage-current (V-I) method, the stability current, I{sub S}, as the minimal quench current obtained with the voltage-field (V-H) method, and RRR. Magnetization was measured at low and high fields to determine the effective filament size and to detect flux jumps. Effects of heat treatment temperature and durations on I{sub e} and I{sub S} were also studied. Using strand billet qualification and tests of strands extracted from cables, the short sample limits of magnet performance were obtained. The details and the results of this investigation are herein described

Design Studies of Nb3Sn High-Gradient Quadrupole Models for LARP

Insertion quadrupoles with large aperture and high gradient are required to achieve the luminosity upgrade goal of 10{sup 35} cm{sup -2} s{sup -1} at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC). In 2004, the US Department of Energy established the LHC Accelerator Research Program (LARP) to develop a technology base for the upgrade. Nb{sub 3}Sn conductor is required in order to operate at high field and with sufficient temperature margin. We report here on the conceptual design studies of a series of 1 m long 'High-gradient Quadrupoles' (HQ) that will explore the magnet performance limits in terms of peak fields, forces and stresses. The HQ design is expected to provide coil peak fields of more than 15 T, corresponding to gradients above 300 T/m in a 90 mm bore. Conductor requirements, magnetic, mechanical and quench protection issues for candidate HQ designs will be presented and discussed

Design and Test of a Nb3Sn Subscale Dipole Magnet for Training Studies

As part of a collaboration between CEA/Saclay and the Superconducting Magnet Group at LBNL, a subscale dipole structure has been developed to study training in Nb3Sn coils under variable pre-stress conditions. This design is derived from the LBNL Subscale Magnet and relies on the use of identical Nb{sub 3}Sn racetrack coils. Whereas the original LBNL subscale magnet was in a dual bore 'common-coil' configuration, the new subscale dipole magnet (SD) is assembled as a single bore dipole made of two superposed racetrack coils. The dipole is supported by a new mechanical structure developed to withstand the horizontal and axial Lorentz forces and capable of applying variable vertical, horizontal and axial preload. The magnet was tested at LBNL as part of a series of training studies aiming at understanding of the relation between pre-stress and magnet performance. Particular attention is given to the coil ends where the magnetic field peaks and stress conditions are the least understood. After a description of SD design, assembly, cool-down and tests results are reported and compared with the computations of the OPERA3D and ANSYS magnetic and mechanical models