Dipole magnets above 20 tesla: Research needs for a path via high-temperature superconducting rebco conductors

To enable the physics research that continues to deepen our understanding of the Universe, future circular colliders will require a critical and unique instrument—magnets that can generate a dipole field of 20 T and above. However, today’s maturing magnet technology for low-temperature superconductors (Nb-Ti and Nb3 Sn) can lead to a maximum dipole field of around 16 T. High-temperature superconductors such as REBCO can, in principle, generate higher dipole fields but significant challenges exist for both conductor and magnet technology. To address these challenges, several critical research needs, including direct needs on instrumentation and measurements, are identified to push for the maximum dipole fields a REBCO accelerator magnet can generate. We discuss the research needs by reviewing the current results and outlining the perspectives for future technology development, followed by a brief update on the status of the technology development at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. We present a roadmap for the next decade to develop 20 T-class REBCO accelerator magnets as an enabling instrument for future energy-frontier accelerator complex

An Electric-Circuit Model on the Inter-Tape Contact Resistance and Current Sharing for REBCO Cable and Magnet Applications

REBCO coated conductor has demonstrated high current capacity that can enable high-field magnets for high energy physics and fusion applications. However, quench protection is still one of the main challenges to be addressed for these applications. In addition, Ic and n value variations along the length of REBCO tapes exist in commercial production. The inter-tape contact resistance plays a key role to develop the self protection capability in cables and magnets by enabling current sharing and suppressing excessive eddy currents. Here we propose an electric-circuit model to describe the inter-tape contact resistance and its impact on the current sharing between REBCO tapes. We report the experiments on a 2-stacked tape REBCO cable with local Ic drop to validate the model. With the developed model, we study the upper limit of the contact resistance which allows current sharing between tapes. We also study the impact of variation in Ic and n values in tapes on the cable performance. Our model is expected to provide useful insight into the current sharing and target values for inter-tape contact resistance in REBCO cables and magnets for various applications

Heat treatment optimizations for Wind-and-React Bi-2212 racetrack coils

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) is developing Wind-and-React (W&R) Bi sr cacu o +δ (Bi-2212) accelerator magnet technology for insert coils, to surpass the intrinsic limitations of Nb-based magnets, and eventually develop hybrid systems that can approach 20 T dipole fields. The Bi-2212 technology is being developed in close collaboration with industry, and has been partly supported by the US Very High Field Superconducting Magnet Collaboration (VHFSMC). Steady improvements were made over the last several years, with coil HTS-SC08 reaching 2636 A, or about 85% of its witness sample critical current (Ic). Though this is still a factor 3 to 4 too low to be competitive with Nb-based materials, it is expected that the required Ic can be achieved through further conductor optimizations. Recent developments include the commissioning of infrastructure for the reaction of coils at LBNL. Earlier coils were fabricated and tested at LBNL, but were reacted at the wire manufacturer. We describe in detail the furnace calibrations and heat treatment optimizations that enable coil reactions at temperatures approaching 890 °C with a homogeneity of ± 1 °C in a pure oxygen flow. We reacted two new coils at LBNL, and tested the performance of coil HTS-SC10 at 4.2 K in self-field using a superconducting transformer system. We find that its performance is consistent with witness samples, and comparable to coil HTS-SC08, which is an identical coil that was reacted at Oxford Instruments Superconductor Technology (OST), thereby validating the in-house reaction process. 2 2 2

Error analysis for hybrid undulators

A general modeling framework is introduced that allows for the solution to magnetic field perturbations due to mechanical and magnetic tolerances in hybrid undulators. For example, both geometric pole errors and permanent magnet block geometry and strength errors can be considered. Of particular significance is the scaling of the various errors with variations in the gap of the device. In this work, the perturbation analysis is presented along with specific examples of errors found in hybrid undulators

Performance correlation between YBa2Cu3O7-δ coils and short samples for coil technology development

A robust fabrication technology is critical to achieve the high performance in YBa Cu O (YBCO) coils as the critical current of the brittle YBCO layer is subject to the strain-induced degradation during coil fabrication. The expected current-carrying capability of the magnet and its temperature dependence are two key inputs to the coil technology development. However, the expected magnet performance is not straightforward to determine because the short-sample critical current depends on both the amplitude and orientation of the applied magnetic field with respect to the broad surface of the tape-form conductor. In this paper, we present an approach to calculate the self-field performance limit for YBCO racetrack coils at 77 and 4.2 K. Critical current of short YBCO samples was measured as a function of the applied field perpendicular to the conductor surface from 0 to 15 T. This field direction limited the conductor critical current. Two double-layer racetrack coils, one with three turns and the other with 10 turns, were wound and tested at 77 and 4.2 K. The test coils reached at least 80% of the expected critical current. The ratio between the coil critical currents at 77 and 4.2 K agreed well with the calculation. We conclude that the presented approach can determine the performance limit in YBCO racetrack coils based on the short-sample critical current and provide a useful guideline for assessing the coil performance and fabrication technology. The correlation of the coil critical current between 77 K and 4.2 K was also observed, allowing the 77 K test to be a cost-effective tool for the development of coil technology. 2

Characterization of insulating coatings for wind-and-react coil fabrication

Electrical insulation breakdown between conductor and coil parts and structures is a limiting factor in the performance of high-field magnets. We have evaluated various insulation coatings for possible application in both Nb Sn and Bi-2212 coil fabrication. Such coatings must be robust to maintain structural integrity and provide adequate voltage standoff after the wind-and-react coil fabrication process. Such processes are characterized by reaction temperatures of 650°C in an inert atmosphere for Nb Sn and 890°C in a pure oxygen atmosphere for Bi-2212, and down to cryogenic temperatures when coils are in service. We present a method of testing standardized samples and report the performance characteristics of oxide layers produced (or applied) by plasma-spray, surface conversion, and "paintable" coatings in common areas of voltage breakdown in coil parts. We also address material compatibility and durability during high-temperature heat treatment and cryogenic shock. Suitable coatings selected in the testing process will be instrumental in improving the performance of future wind-and-react coils. © 2014 AIP Publishing LLC. 3

Engineering current density over 5 kA mm-2 at 4.2 K, 14 T in thick film REBCO tapes

We report on remarkably high in-field performance at 4.2 K achieved in >4 μm thick rare earth barium copper oxide (REBCO) samples with Zr addition. Two different samples have been measured independently at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, achieving critical current densities (J ) of 12.21 MA cm and 12.32 MA cm at 4.2 K, 14 T (), respectively, which corresponds to equivalent critical current (I ) values of 2247 and 2119 A/4 mm. These I values are about two times higher than the best reported performance of REBCO tapes to date and more than five times higher than the commercial HTS tapes reported in a recent study. The measured J values, with a pinning force of ∼1.7 T N m are almost identical to the highest value reported for thin (∼1 μm thick) REBCO at the field and temperature, but extended to very thick (>4 μm) films. This results in an engineering current density (J ) above 5 kA mm at 4.2 K, 14 T, which is more than five times higher than Nb Sn and nearly four times higher than the highest reported value of all superconductors other than REBCO at this field and temperature. The reported results have been achieved by utilizing an advanced metal organic chemical vapor deposition system. This study demonstrates the remarkable level of in-field performance achievable with REBCO conductors at 4.2 K and strong potential for high-field magnet applications. c c c c e 3 -2 -2 -3 -

Validation of finite-element models of persistent-current effects in Nb3Sn accelerator magnets

Persistent magnetization currents are induced in superconducting filaments during the current ramping in magnets. The resulting perturbation to the design magnetic field leads to field quality degradation, particularly at low field, where the effect is stronger relative to the main field. The effects observed in NbTi accelerator magnets were reproduced well with the critical-state model. However, this approach becomes less accurate for the calculation of the persistent-current effects observed in Nb Sn accelerator magnets. Here, a finite-element method based on the measured strand magnetization is validated using three state-of-the-art Nb Sn accelerator magnets featuring different subelement diameters, conductor critical currents, magnet designs, and test temperatures. The temperature dependence of the persistent-current effects is reproduced. Based on the validated model, the impact of conductor design on the persistent-current effects is discussed. The strengths, limitations, and possible improvements of the approach are also discussed. 3

Protecting the leads of a powered magnet that is protected with diodes and resistors

MRI magnets and other magnets that have a low current and high self-inductance are passively quench-protected with a system that includes sub-divided coils with resistors and diodes that are in parallel with sections of the coils. The primary purpose of coil sub-division is to protect the coil from the high voltages that can occur during a quench. In the event of a lead failure (conventional or superconducting) between the coil and its power supply or its persistent switch, the total current in the coil flows through the diodes and resistors in parallel with the coil. When a lead fails, the current decay time constant for the coil current can be quite long. It is desirable that the coil quench in a time that is short compared to the coil current decay time constant. Experience shows that the heating from the resistors and diodes will eventually quench the magnet. This paper presents methods for shortening the time between a lead failure or a persistent switch failure and the eventual magnet quench. © 2011 IEEE