accelerating-news-arc.web.cern.ch - HiLumi LHC

A year of successes for HL-LHC

Jennifer Toes — Mon, 05 Dec 2016 14:49:13 +0000

A year of successes for HL-LHC
by Isabel Bejar Alonso (CERN)

180 HL-LHC project members participated to the 6th Annual Meeting in Paris from the 14th-16th November, co-organized with CEA at the “Espace Saint Martin” premises (Image: CERN, HL-LHC collaboration)

2016 has been a very busy year for the Hi-Luminosity team. In March, the HL-LHC was declared as an ESFRI landmark, and in June the project received the formal approval of the CERN Council. Finally, after an international review, the 2^nd HL-LHC Cost and Schedule review took place in October; where a group of international experts scrutinized the status of the project. The reviewers gave very positive feedback and pointed out risks of which the management team were already aware.

On the technical side, it is difficult to determine the three main technical milestones of the project due to the sheer volume of achievements.

For Lucio Rossi, HL-LHC Project Leader, 2016 was the year of the consolidation of the civil engineering and technical infrastructure design. In particular, in 2016 we optimized the so called “double decker” solution, which was selected in summer 2015 as best solution for hosting the technical services that will feed the new insertion regions in a gallery a few meters above the main LHC tunnel.

This definitive design pushed to a re-baselining exercise which aimed to resolve the excess in civil engineering costs that emerged in spring 2016. The results of this exercise were presented and validated at the Cost and Schedule review after being approved by the CERN Executive Committee in August. The results have also been integrated into the latest version of the Technical Design Report (TDR), that will be published soon.

In addition, Lucio Rossi pointed that the HL-LHC technical teams have achieved many things, such as the production of full cross-section models of the HL-LHC’s future quadrupole magnets. The first short model (MQXFS1) of the future quadrupoles was produced by a collaboration between US-LARP and CERN. The magnets (MQXFS1) achieved the ultimate gradient and retained it after a thermal cycle showing an optimal memory. Had the magnet been a prototype rather than a model, would have been qualified for installation.

Furthermore, the SPS testing of the crab cavity cryo-assemblies has also made significant progress. After being considered in a critical state and with challenging planning just one year ago, the schedule is back on track and has been adhered to, without any further delay.

Beyond SPS testing, the industrialization plan for the HL-LHC production was validated by the external reviewers and considered extremely solid.

HL-LHC has had a successful year both in terms of project management and technical milestones. Project members gathered for the 6^th HL-LHC Collaboration meeting held in Paris in November to discuss the past year and look forward to the next steps.

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HiLumi LHC

issue 19

Successful completion of the HQ program, testbed for the LHC IR quadrupoles

Alessia Barachetti — Thu, 19 Nov 2015 13:14:10 +0000

Successful completion of the HQ program, a testbed for the LHC IR quadrupoles
By Giorgio Ambrosio (FNAL), Guram Chlachidze (FNAL), P. Ferracin (CERN) and GianLuca Sabbi (LBNL)

LARP High Field quadrupole (HQ) magnet cross section.

The US LHC Accelerator Research Program (LARP) scientists, in collaboration with CERN, have completed tests on the latest series of the 120 mm aperture Nb₃Sn High-field Quadrupoles (HQ03). The HQ03 serves as a testbed for the development of the new HL-LHC IR quadrupoles (MQXF), for which a short model is currently undergoing tests.

Two test cycles were carried out on LARP’s latest series of the 120 mm aperture Nb₃Sn High-field Quadrupoles (HQ03) that serve as a basis for the MQXF. This third series applies optimized design solutions and improves the coil-to-coil uniformity. Quench training was performed entirely at 1.9 K with a room-temperature cycle between two test cycles. The magnet demonstrated excellent performance: in both test cycles, it surpassed the nominal operating gradient, corresponding to 80% of the conductor (short sample) limit, without quenches. The highest current reached at 1.9 K was 16.1 kA, achieving 90% of the short sample limit (SSL). At 4.5 K the model achieved 98% SSL. Magnetic shims placed inside the iron yoke have also proved effective to correct magnetic field errors.

As we reported in our June 2015 issue, a first 150 mm aperture MQXF coil manufactured in the US was tested at FNAL in a mirror configuration. The coil reached 90% of the short sample limit after 20 quenches. This was the first successful test proving the design of the MQXF coil. Following the mirror test, the first MQXF short model has been assembled in LBNL and is undergoing testing at Fermilab.

Assembly of MQXFSM1 Mirror magnet. Credits: Reidar Hahn (FNAL)

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HiLumi-LHC moves on to construction phase

Alessia Barachetti — Thu, 19 Nov 2015 08:47:48 +0000

HiLumi-LHC moves on to construction phase
by Agnes Szeberenyi and Alessia Barachetti (CERN)

October 2015 was a turning point for the High Luminosity LHC (HL-LHC) project, marking the end of the European-funded HiLumi LHC Design Study activities, and the transition to the main hardware prototyping and industrialization phase, which is also reflected in the redesigned logo that was recently presented. The green light was given between 26 and 30 October 2015, when more than 230 experts from all over the world gathered at CERN to attend the 5^th Joint HiLumi/LARP Annual Meeting.

During five days of intense plenary meetings and working sessions, a first version of the Technical Design Report was approved and released. The document, following the Preliminary Design Report issued in 2014, describes in detail how the LHC upgrade programme will be carried out. During the meeting, the seventeen Work Packages that over these four years worked to address the technological and technical challenges related to the upgrade also presented the main outcomes of their work.

5th Joint HiLumi LHC-LARP Annual Meeting. Image credits: CERN

The accelerator physics and performance team reported on the parameter sets and machine optics that would allow HiLumi LHC to reach the very ambitious performance target of an integrated luminosity of 250 fb^-1 per year. The study of the beam-beam effects confirmed the feasibility of the nominal scenario based on the baseline b* levelling mechanism, providing sufficient operational margin for operation with the new ATS (Achromatic Telescopic Scheme) at the nominal levelling luminosity of 5×10³⁴ cm^-2s^-1, with possibility to reach up to 50% more. The magnet design activity launched the hardware fabrication of short models of the Nb₃Sn quadrupoles’ triplet (QXF), separation dipole, two-in-one large aperture quadrupole and 11 T dipole for Dispersion Suppressor collimators. Single short coils in the mirror configuration have already been successfully tested for the triplet. The first model of the QXF triplet containing two CERN and two LARP coils was assembled in the US in summer 2015 and is being tested this fall, while a short model of the 11 T dipole fabricated at CERN reached 12T. To protect the magnets from the higher beam currents, the collimation team was focusing on the design and verification of the new generation of collimators. The team presented a complete technical solution for the collimation in and around the insertions in HL-LHC, providing improved flexibility against optics changes. The crab cavities activity finalized and launched the manufacturing of the crab cavity interfaces, including the helium vessels and the cryo-module assembly. All cavity parts stamped in the US will be assembled and surface processed in the US in addition to electron-beam welding and testing. Last but not least, as part of their efforts to develop a superconducting transmission line, the cold powering activity hit a world record current of 20kA at 24K in a 40m long MgB₂electrical transmission line. The team has finalised the development and launched the procurement of the first MgB₂ PIT round wires. This is an important achievement that will enable the start of a large cabling activity in industry, as required for the production of prototype Cold Powering System for the HL-LHC.

In the recently released open access HiLumi LHC book “The High Luminosity Large Hadron Collider. The New Machine for Illuminating the Mysteries of the Universe”, you can find out more about the High Luminosity LHC project, its technology and design as well as the challenges ahead.

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Accelerators celebrating the International Year of Light

Livia Lapadatescu — Tue, 14 Apr 2015 07:59:07 +0000

Accelerators celebrating the International Year of Light
by Agnes Szeberenyi (CERN)

Luminous collisions at CERN to promote the year of light
Image credit: CERN

The year 2015, a century after the publication of Einstein’s Theory of General Relativity in 1915, has been proclaimed the International Year of Light and light-based technologies by the UN General Assembly.

‘Light as luminosity’ is the theme of the CERN celebrations on the occasion of the International Year of Light and Light-based Technologies (IYL 2015). CERN is organizing a series of public events that are broadcasted online, and archived. Follow the webcasts for upcoming and past events here.

Read the viewpoint of prof. Lucio Rossi, the Leader of the High Luminosity LHC on the “luminous” celebrations.

Also visit the International Year of Light blog for more inspirational stories, not only on accelerators.

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Targeting the Energy Frontier for next Accelerators

Sabrina El Yacoubi — Fri, 28 Nov 2014 08:09:00 +0000

Targeting the Energy Frontier for next Accelerators
by Frank Zimmermann (CERN)

Layout of SAPPHiRE g-g collider Higgs factory delivering 10k Higgs per year.

Recently two EuCARD-AccNet events explored options for the next accelerators at the energy frontier. The EuCARD “SAPPHiRE Day” on 19 February focused on the key components of a proposed g-g collider Higgs factory, based on a recirculating SC linac. The “Joint Snowmass-EuCARD/AccNet-HiLumiLHC meeting on Frontier Capabilities for Hadron Colliders 2013” on 21-22 February investigated the next generations of hadron colliders up to the 100 TeV scale. Both workshops attracted about 50 experts from around the world.

The proposed SAPPHIRE layout is a moderately expensive step towards a higher-energy linear collider, demonstrating the handling of 20-nm spot sizes while delivering first-rate physics results. The emphasis of the SAPPHiRE Day was on the laser system, optical cavity, interaction region design, and FEL approaches.

The joint workshop on frontier capabilities explored the parameters and 20-T magnets for a 33-TeV c.m. pp collider in the existing LHC tunnel and for a 100-TeV c.m. collider in a new 80-km tunnel. The workshop reviewed the high-field magnet development status and plans at CERN and LBNL.

New progress for the HiLumi baseline configuration

Margarita Synanidi — Thu, 27 Nov 2014 09:21:58 +0000

New progress for the HiLumi baseline configuration
by Lucio Rossi (CERN)

Fig1: The U.S. LHC Accelerator Research Program (LARP) consists of four US laboratories, BNL, FNAL, LBNL, and SLAC, who collaborate with CERN on the Large Hadron Collider.

On 3 July, the High Luminosity LHC Parameter and Lay-out Committee (HL-PLC), formed as part of the HiLumi LHC Design Study, selected the maximum possible aperture for the quadrupoles of the inner triplets: 150 mm of coil free bore.

This decision was to get the maximum benefit of the new parameter space by using advanced superconductor Nb₃Sn, based on the success of 4-m long, 90 mm aperture LARP quadrupole LQS01b and the 1-m long, 120 mm HQ. This choice was prepared by numerous meetings organized by the Magnets, Accelerator Physics and Performance and Energy deposition work package groups, with participation from CERN, University of Liverpool, US-LARP and KEK.

A recent review of US-LARP (LHC Accelerator Research Program) by DOE-Office of High Energy Physics praised the success of the LARP collaboration that was important in the HiLumi LHC project. In light of the 150 mm aperture size both the Accelerator Physics and the Magnet branches of LARP are readjusting their plans, preparing a construction project for 2015.

Additional progress included a recent meeting dedicated to the lay-out problem of the LHC-Point8 interaction region, especially in the LHCb upgrade era.

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From the FP7 HiLumi Design Study towards the High Luminosity LHC

Margarita Synanidi — Mon, 24 Nov 2014 13:50:29 +0000

From the FP7 HiLumi Design Study towards the High Luminosity LHC
by Agnes Szeberenyi (CERN) and Livia Lapadatescu (CERN)

Group picture from the 3rd Joint HiLumi LHC-LARP Annual Meeting 2013.
Image credit: HiLumi LHC.

To mark the approval of the High Luminosity LHC Programme by the CERN Council in June 2013, the 3rd Joint HiLumi LHC-LARP Annual Meeting was held in conjunction with the HL-LHC kick-off.

The event took place at the Daresbury Laboratory in the UK between 11-15 November 2013, with an outstanding attendance of more than 160 scientists from all over the world, including Japan, Russia and the US. Directors of major accelerator laboratories were present as invited prominent speakers.

The first part of the event covered the kick-off of the HL-LHC project, advanced as a first priority for CERN in the years to come. Following the format of the previous annual meetings, the second part of the event focused on the progress in design and R&D of the FP7 HiLumi Design Study. Plenary and work package parallel sessions were organized and focused on the work of the Parameter and Lay-Out Committee, the collaboration with LARP, the achievements and reports from work packages. The outcomes and recommendations of the CERN Review of LHC & Injector Upgrade Plans Workshop (RLIUP) were also reported.

The 4th Joint HiLumi Annual Meeting is planned to take place in November 2014 at KEK, the High Energy Accelerator Research Organization in Japan.

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World-record current in the MgB2 superconductor

Margarita Synanidi — Thu, 20 Nov 2014 10:09:24 +0000

World-record current in the MgB2 superconductor
by Thomas Hind (CERN) and Amalia Ballarino (CERN)

Fig 1, left. The 20-metre long electrical transmission line containing the two 20 kA MgB₂ cables.
Image credit: CERN
Fig 2, right. Members of the CERN Superconductors and Superconducting Devices team in front of the test station. Image credit: CERN

Members of the CERN Superconductors team have achieved a world-record current in a Magnesium Diboride (MgB₂) superconductor.

A current of 20kA was transferred at 24K in an MgB₂ electrical transfer line developed at CERN. The line consists of two cables, each 20m long, made from MgB₂ round wires and connected in series, with the cooling provided by a forced flow of helium gas. After operation at nominal current, a series of quench tests at 20 kA and a complete thermal cycle from room temperature to nominal operation temperature were successfully performed.

MgB₂’s superconducting properties were discovered in 2001, but conductor technology only existed in the form of tape at the time. Round wire was not available when the project started, but had to be developed. The cables and associated technologies were designed and tested and CERN, with the superconducting wire the result of a joint R&D effort between CERN and Columbus Superconductors in Genova, Italy.

The project is part of the FP7 Hi-Lumi LHC Design Study, which aims to move the power converters supplying current to the superconducting magnets either to the surface or to radiation free underground areas and to use high temperature superconducting transmission lines to connect them.

These cables have further uses outside of particle physics, and their use has been proposed for innovative transmission lines used for long-distance transport of green power. The test results show that the MgB₂ cables can be operated at and above the temperature of liquid hydrogen and that the basic related technology is now proven.

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Why do we need a High Luminosity LHC?

Sabrina El Yacoubi — Wed, 17 Sep 2014 13:49:27 +0000

Why do we need a High Luminosity LHC?
by Kate Kahle (CERN)

Work Packages of the HiLumi LHC FP7 Design Study (WP1-WP6) within the High-Luminosity (HL-LHC) project (click image to enlarge). Image credit: HiLumi LHC

The Large Hadron Collider (LHC) is set to remain the most powerful accelerator in the world for at least two decades. But beyond the run in 2019–2021, halving the statistical error in the measurements will require more than 10 years of running – unless the nominal luminosity is increased by a considerable amount.

To maintain scientific progress and exploit its full capacity, the LHC needs a major upgrade after 2020. The aim is to increase its luminosity by a factor of 5–10 beyond the original design value and provide 3000 fb–1 in 10 to 12 years.

From a physics perspective, operating at a higher luminosity has three main purposes: to perform more accurate measurements on the new particles discovered at the LHC; to observe rare processes that occur at rates below the current sensitivity, whether predicted by the Standard Model or by the new physics scenarios unveiled by the LHC; and to extend exploration of the energy frontier, to increase the discovery reach with rare events in which most of the proton momentum is concentrated in a single quark or gluon.

This has led to the High-Luminosity LHC (HL-LHC) project, which relies on innovative technologies such as cutting-edge 12 T superconducting magnets with large aperture, compact and ultraprecise superconducting cavities for beam rotation, new types of collimators and 300-m long, high-power superconducting links with almost zero energy dissipation. The most technically challenging aspects require CERN to form strong external collaborations, which is why part of the HL-LHC project is grouped under the FP7 HiLumi LHC Design Study. [Edited extract from the CERN Courier]

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