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.

Read more >>

Tags:

Hi Lumi LHC

HiLumi LHC

World Record

Current

superconducting

MgB2

issue 10

Accelerating medical treatments

Sabrina El Yacoubi — Wed, 17 Sep 2014 13:54:13 +0000

Accelerating medical treatments
by Kate Kahle (CERN)

Image 1: Extract from "Novel Techniques in Proton Therapy" presented at ICTR-PHE 2012 showing the usability of different types of accelerators for proton therapy now and in the future (click image to enlarge). Image credit: Marco Schippers, PSI.
Image 2: Conceptual design for the CIEMAT/CERN smallest-possible superconducting cyclotron for medical isotopes, with a magnet only 0.8 m in diameter. Image credit: CIEMAT.

In February, the physics and medical communities came together at the ICTR-PHE 2012 conference in Geneva. Within the scientific programme, the session "Novel Technologies in Radiation Therapy" looked at the present and emerging roles of accelerators in medical treatments.

The session opened with "Novel Techniques in Proton Therapy" by Marco Schippers, PSI, who explained the need for high quality, accuracy, flexibility, intensity and energy coupled with low prices and hence reduction in size. Currently the cyclotron scores the highest for usability for proton therapy, but, in the future, linacs, FFAG and plasma wakefield may also prove usable options.

In addition, Dewi Lewis, in his highlight talk at the EuCARD annual meeting, presents "Evolution of accelerator design for medical isotopes production", linked to his recent article in the CERN Courier "Medical-isotope cyclotron designs go full circle", This article examines the role of cyclotrons in medicine over the years and discusses the interplay that has existed between industry and the accelerator laboratories. The article showcases the latest collaboration between CERN and CIEMAT, using LHC accelerator technology and expertise to help design and build the smallest-possible cyclotron using superconducting technology with a proton energy of around 8 MeV, the objective being to produce single-patient doses of radioisotopes.

accelerating-news-arc.web.cern.ch - superconducting

World-record current in the MgB2 superconductor

Accelerating medical treatments