The Dependence of the Field Decay on the Powering History of the LHC Superconducting Dipole Magnets

The decay of the allowed multipoles in the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) dipoles is expected to perturb the beam stability during the particle injection. The decay amplitude is largely affected by the powering history of the magnet and is particularly dependent on the pre-cycle flat-top current and duration as well as the pre-injection preparation duration. With possible prospects of having different genres of cycles during the LHC operation, the powering history effect must be taken into account in the Field Description Model for the LHC and must hence be corrected during machine operation. This paper presents the results of the modelling of this phenomenon

Measurement and Modeling of Magnetic Hysteresis in the LHC Superconducting Correctors

The Large Hadron Collider, now under construction at CERN, relies heavily on superconducting magnets for its optics layout: besides the main magnets, almost all the correcting magnets are superconducting. Along with clear advantages, this brings about complications due to the effects of persistent currents in the superconducting filaments. Corrector magnets that trim key beam parameters or compensate field errors of the main magnets (among others those due to hysteresis), are in their turn hysteretic. In this paper we present the measured magnetic hysteresis and its possible influence on accelerator operation, with particular reference to realtime compensation of dynamic effects in the main magnets, and reproducibility issues between runs. The modeling strategy as a function of the required accuracy is discussed, and two examples are presented

Dependence of the Static and Dynamic Field Quality of the LHC Superconducting Dipole Magnets on the Pre-Cycle Ramp Rate

The allowed multipoles in the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) superconducting dipole magnets decay whilst on a constant current plateau. It is known that the decay amplitude is largely affected by the powering history of the magnet, and particularly by the pre-cycle flat top current and duration and the pre-injection preparation duration. Recently, it was observed that the decay amplitude is also highly dependent on the pre-cycle ramp rate, which has an indirect effect also on the sample of data taken at constant field along the magnet loadlines. This is an important consideration to be included in the Field Description for the LHC (FiDeL), to cope with the difference between the test procedure followed for series tests and the expected cycles during the machine operation. This paper presents the results of the measurements performed to investigate this phenomenon and describes the method included in FiDeL to represent this dependence

The Field Description Model for the LHC Quadrupole Superconducting Magnets

The LHC control system requires an accurate forecast of the magnetic field and the multipole field errors to reduce the burden on the beam-based feed-back. The Field Description for the LHC (FIDEL) is the core of this forecast system and is based on the identification and physical decomposition of the effects that contribute to the total field in the magnet apertures. The effects are quantified using the data obtained from series magnetic measurements at CERN and they are consequently modelled empirically or theoretically depending on the complexity of the physical phenomena. This paper presents a description of the methodology used to model the field of the LHC magnets particularly focusing on the results obtained for the LHC main quadrupoles (MQ) and insertion region wide aperture quadrupoles (MQY)

Focusing Strength Measurements of the Main Quadrupoles for the LHC

More than 1100 quadrupole magnets of different types are needed for the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) which is in the construction stage at CERN. The most challenging parameter to measure on these quadrupoles is the integrated gradient (Gdl). An absolute accuracy of 0.1% is needed to control the beta beating. In this paper we briefly describe the whole set of equipment used for Gdl measurements: Automated Scanner system, Single Stretched Wire system and Twin Coils system, concentrating mostly on their absolute accuracies. Most of the possible inherent effects that can introduce systematic errors are discussed along with their preventive methods. In the frame of this qualification some of the magnets were tested with two systems. The results of the intersystem cross-calibrations are presented. In addition, the qualification of the measurement system used at the magnet manufacturer's is based on results of more than 40 quadrupole assemblies tested in cold conditions at CERN and in warm conditions at the vendor site

Higher-order nonlinear modes and bifurcation phenomena due to degenerate parametric four-wave mixing

We demonstrate that weak parametric interaction of a fundamental beam with its third harmonic field in Kerr media gives rise to a rich variety of families of non-fundamental (multi-humped) solitary waves. Making a comprehensive comparison between bifurcation phenomena for these families in bulk media and planar waveguides, we discover two novel types of soliton bifurcations and other interesting findings. The later includes (i) multi-humped solitary waves without even or odd symmetry and (ii) multi-humped solitary waves with large separation between their humps which, however, may not be viewed as bound states of several distinct one-humped solitons.Comment: 9 pages, 17 figures, submitted to Phys. Rev.

Main Field Tracking Measurement in the LHC Superconducting Dipole and Quadrupole Magnets

One of the most stringent requirements during the energy ramp of the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) is to have a constant ratio between dipole-quadrupole and dipole-dipole field so as to control the variation of the betatron tune and of the beam orbit throughout the acceleration phase, hence avoiding particle loss. To achieve the nominal performance of the LHC, a maximum variation of ±0.003 tune units can be tolerated. For the commissioning with low intensity beams, acceptable bounds are up to 30 times higher. For the quadrupole-dipole integrated field ratio, the above requirements translate in the tight windows of 6 ppm and 180 ppm, while for dipole differences between sectors the acceptable error is of the order of 10^-4. Measurement and control at this level are challenging. For this reason we have launched a dedicated measurement R&D to demonstrate that these ratios can be measured and controlled within the limits for machine operation. In this paper we present the techniques developed to power the magnets during the current ramps, the instrumentation and data acquisition setup used to perform the tracking experiments, the calibration procedure and the data reduction employed

A Demonstration Experiment for the Forecast of Magnetic Field and Field Errors in the Large Hadron Collider

In order to reduce the burden on the beam-based feedback, the Large Hadron Collider control system is equipped with the Field Description for the LHC (FiDeL) which provides a forecast of the magnetic field and the multipole field errors. FiDeL has recently been extensively tested at CERN to determine main field tracking, multipole forecasting and compensation accuracy. This paper describes the rationale behind the tests, the procedures employed to power the main magnets and their correctors, and finally, we present the results obtained. We also give an indication of the prediction accuracy that the system can deliver during the operation of the LHC and we discuss the implications that these will have on the machine performance

Electrical and Magnetic Performance of the LHC Short Straight Sections

The Short Straight Section (SSS) for the Large Hadron Collider arcs, containing in a common cryostat the lattice quadrupoles and correction magnets, have now entered series production. The foremost features of the lattice quadrupole magnets are a two-in-one structure containing two 56 mm aperture, two-layers coils wound from 15.1 mm wide NbTi cables, enclosed by the stainless steel collars and ferromagnetic yoke, and inserted into the inertia tube. Systematic cryogenic tests are performed at CERN in order to qualify these magnets with respect to their cryogenic and electrical integrity, the quench performance and the field quality in all operating conditions. This paper reports the main results obtained during tests and measurements in superfluid helium. The electrical characteristics, the insulation measurements and the quench performance are compared to the specifications and expected performances for these magnets. The field in the main quadrupole is measured using three independent systems: 10-m long twin rotating coils, an automatic scanner, and single stretched wire. A particular emphasis is given to the integrated transfer function which has a spread of around 12 units rms in the production and is a critical issue. The do-decapole harmonic component, which required trimming through a change in coil shims, is also discussed. Finally, the magnetic axis measurements at room temperature and at 1.9 K, providing the nominal vertical shift for installation are reported