Protection of LHC superconducting corrector magnets

The protection of superconducting magnets in case of a quench has to be considered already in the design phase for the proton-proton collider LHC. The protection of main dipole and quadrupole magnets, based on cold diodes and quench heaters, is reported elsewhere [1]. In this paper the protection of other magnets is discussed. In the arcs some of the magnets are connected in series: sextupole magnets to correct the lattice chromaticity, small sextupole and decapole magnets to correct systematic field errors of the dipoles and octupole magnets. The magnets in the arcs to correct horizontal and vertical closed orbit excursions are powered individually. In the insertions other superconducting magnets will be used: quadrupole magnets for the low-beta insertions, orbit corrector magnets, etc. Some magnets will be constructed with sufficient copper stabilization to safely absorb the energy. For other magnets different methods of protection after the detection of a quench in the circuit are envisaged

Thermo-hydraulic Quench Propagation at the LHC Superconducting Magnet String

The superconducting magnets of the LHC are protected by heaters and cold by-pass diodes. If a magnet quenches, the heaters on this magnet are fired and the magnet chain is de-excited in about two minu tes by opening dump switches in parallel to a resistor. During the time required for the discharge, adjacent magnets might quench due to thermo-hydraulic propagation in the helium bath and/or heat con duction via the bus bar. The number of quenching magnets depends on the mechanisms for the propagation. In this paper we report on quench propagation experiments from a dipole magnet to an adjacent ma gnet. The mechanism for the propagation is hot helium gas expelled from the first quenching magnet. The propagation changes with the pressure opening settings of the quench relief valves

Abrupt Rise of the Longitudinal Recoil Ion Momentum Distribution for Ionizing Collisions

We report on the experimental observation of an abrupt rise in the longitudinal momentum distribution of recoil ions created in proton helium collision. The details of this structure can be related to electrons traveling with the velocity of the projectile [electron capture to the continuum (ECC)]. The longitudinal as well as the transverse distribution of the recoil ions can be explained as a continuation of the momentum distribution from ions resulting from electron capture illustrating the smooth transition from the capture to bound states of the projectile to the ECC.Fil: Weber, Th.. Institut für Kernphysik; AlemaniaFil: Khayyat, Kh.. Institut für Kernphysik; AlemaniaFil: Dörner, R.. Universität Freiburg; AlemaniaFil: Rodríguez Chariarse, Vladimir Daniel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Física de Buenos Aires. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Física de Buenos Aires; ArgentinaFil: Mergel, V.. Institut für Kernphysik; AlemaniaFil: Jagutzk, O.. Institut für Kernphysik; AlemaniaFil: Schmidt, L.. Institut für Kernphysik,; AlemaniaFil: Müller, K. A.. Institut für Kernphysik; AlemaniaFil: Afaneh, F.. Institut für Kernphysik; AlemaniaFil: Gonzalez, A.. Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica. Centro Atómico Bariloche; ArgentinaFil: Schmidt-Böcking, H.. Institut für Kernphysik; Alemani

Energy Extraction for the LHC Superconducting Circuits

The superconducting magnets of the LHC will be powered in about 1700 electrical circuits. The energy stored in circuits, up to 1.3 GJ, can potentially cause severe damage of magnets, bus bars and current leads. In order to protect the superconducting elements after a resistive transition, the energy is dissipated into a dump resistor installed in series with the magnet chain that is switched into the circuit by opening current breakers. Experiments and simulation studies have been performed to identify the LHC circuits that need energy extraction. The required values of the extraction resistors have been computed. The outcome of the experimental results and the simulation studies are presented and the design of the different energy extraction systems that operate at 600 A and at 13 kA is described

Electrodynamic behaviour of the LHC superconducting magnet string during a discharge

A string of three dipole magnets and one quadrupole magnet, representing a half cell of the future LHC collider, has been assembled and tested at CERN. In order to avoid high temperatures in the magnets and high voltages between coils and ground in case of a quench, a reliable magnet protection system is necessary. The magnets are by-passed by protection diodes which are located in the cold mass. In case of a quench most of the stored magnetic energy is dissipated in the resistive parts of the magnets. Many natural and heater provoked quenches have been performed during the two experimental runs of the string at 1.9 K. This paper describes the electrodynamic behaviour during a fast discharge (i.e. after a quench) of the magnet string configuration. A simulation program was developed to evaluate parameters which cannot be directly measured, such as the current sharing between magnets and diodes, as well as the dissipated energy. The simulation program gives also the possibility for worst-case calculations, for example non-uniform magnet quench characteristics and protection heater delays

Quench propagation tests on the LHC superconducting magnet string

The installation and testing of a series connection of superconducting magnets (three 10 m long dipoles and one 3 m long quadrupole) has been a necessary step in the verification of the viability of the Large Hadron Collider at CERN. In the LHC machine, if one of the lattice dipoles or quadrupoles quenches, the current will be by-passed through cold diodes and the whole magnet chain will be de-excited by opening dump switches. In such a scenario it is very important to know whether the quench propagates from the initially quenching magnet to adjacent ones. A series of experiments have been performed with the LHC Test String powered at different current levels and at different de-excitation rates in order to understand possible mechanisms for such a propagation, and the time delays involved. Results of the tests and implications regarding the LHC machine operation are described in this paper

Machine Protection for the LHC: Architecture of the Beam and Powering Interlock Systems

The superconducting Large Hadron Collider under construction at CERN is an accelerator with unprecedented complexity. Its operation requires a large variety of instrumentation, not only for control of the beams, but also for the control and protection of the complex hardware systems. Sophisticated protection systems are mandatory to minimise the risk for serious damage caused by a failure. Each proton beam will have an energy of more than 300 MJ, and the energy stored in the magnet system amounts to about 1.2 GJ for each sector. Ideas for the architecture of the interlocks linking the protection systems are presented here

Quench Heater Experiments on the LHC Main Superconducting Magnets

In case of a quench in one of the main dipoles and quadrupoles of CERN's Large Hadron Collider (LHC), the magnet has to be protected against excessive temperatures and high voltages. In order to uniformly distribute the stored magnetic energy in the coils, heater strips installed in the magnet are fired after quench detection. Tests of different quench heater configurations were performed on various 1 m long model and 15 m long prototype dipole magnets, as well as on a 3 m long prototype quadrupole magnet. The experiments aimed at optimising the layout of the quench heater strips, minimising the complexity of the protection system and determining its redundancy. In this paper we discuss the results of the performed experiments and describe the optimised quench heater design for the LHC main magnets

Protection of the Superconducting Corrector Magnets for the LHC

n the LHC about 6500 superconducting corrector magnets will be powered either in stand-alone mode or in electrical circuits of up to 154 magnets. Single corrector magnets are designed to be self-protected in case of a quench. The protection scheme of magnets powered in series depends on the energy stored in the magnet and on the number of magnets in the circuit. A quench is detected by measuring the resistive voltage of the circuit. The power converter is switched off, and for most circuits part of the energy is extracted with a resistor. Some magnets may require a resistor or possibly a diode parallel to the magnet in order to avoid overheating of the superconducting wire or an unacceptable voltage level. Experiments have been performed to understand quenching of prototype corrector magnets. In order to determine the adequate protection schemes for the magnet circuits the results have been used as input for simulations to extrapolate to the LHC conditions

The Non-thermal Radio Jet Toward the NGC 2264 Star Formation Region

We report sensitive VLA 3.6 cm radio observations toward the head of the Cone nebula in NGC 2264, made in 2006. The purpose of these observations was to study a non-thermal radio jet recently discovered, that appears to emanate from the head of the Cone nebula. The jet is highly polarized, with well-defined knots, and one-sided. The comparison of our images with 1995 archive data indicates no evidence of proper motions nor polarization changes. We find reliable flux density variations in only one knot, which we tentatively identify as the core of a quasar or radio galaxy. An extragalactic location seems to be the best explanation for this jet.Comment: 12 pages, 5 figure