A cable-scale experiment to explore new materials for optimizing superconductor accelerator magnets. (March 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kovacs, C.J.; Barzi, E.Z.; Turrioni, D.; Zlobin, A.V.; Marchevsky, M.
• Is Part Of: Cryogenics. Volume 106(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-03
• Subjects: Low temperature engineering -- Periodicals; Low temperature research -- Periodicals; 536.56
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cryogenics.2019.103025
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0011-2275

Abstract

Highlights: A sub-scale experiment to explore magnet level composite characteristics. Acoustic and voltage data was collected during pressing of magnet–scale composites. Voltage data was collected from an embedded and excited Nb3 Sn strand. Two impregnation materials were compared, CTD–101 K and NHMFL Mix–61. NHMFL Mix–61 generated lower count and amplitude acoustic and voltage signals. Abstract: A previously commissioned system for exploring critical current pressure sensitivity in superconducting cables, the Transverse Pressure Insert, was modified to examine signals resulting from strand motion and insulation/impregnation cracking in a fully-excited Nb3 Sn single strand embedded in an insulation wrapped and impregnated Cu dummy Rutherford cable stack. Measurements were performed in LHe with cyclic transverse pressures up to 68.5 MPa and transverse applied fields up to 13 T. Pressure was applied and removed to simulate stresses seen during magnet operation. Voltage and acoustic signal traces from a CTD-101 K impregnated cable stack were compared to those of a sample impregnated with NHMFL Mix–61. The experiments in this document were in the pursuit of developing a smaller scale, lower cost, and shorter turn around time experiment for exploring materials and processes to decrease training in next-generation Nb3 Sn accelerator magnets.