Effect of Neutron Irradiation on Superconducting Materials for the Upgrade of the Large Hadron Collider (LHC)

01.05.2010 - 30.06.2014
Research funding project
The work to be performed consists of the following tasks. Task 1 - Correlation of magnetization and transport critical current Search for correlations between magnetization and transport critical current measurements, performed on a selected number of Nb3Sn samples. Verify whether for scaling purposes magnetization measurements can provide a fast and cost-effective alternative to transport measurements of critical current. Measurements will be performed on both Internal Tin and Powder-in-Tube strands. 4 mm long samples for magnetization measurements will be provided by CERN. They will be cut from 10 cm-long samples after heat treatment at CERN. Heat treatment conditions will be defined in order to reach nearly optimum critical current and at the same time maintaining a RRR>200. The 4 mm long samples will be cut in equidistant lengths over one strand twist pitch length. Measurements will be performed using a SQUID magnetometer Task 2 - Magnetization measurement of irradiated Nb3Sn samples Screening of irradiation properties of Nb3Sn samples. The effect of irradiation will be quantified by magnetization measurements at variable field and temperature. In addition, RRR measurements (ratio of 293 K to 10 K resistance) will be performed on samples of the same strand types. The range of neutron fluences proposed is 0.2, 0.4, 0.7 and 1x1022 1/m² (actual fluences to be agreed jointly). M(B,T) of the same samples will be measured with a SQUID magnetometer before irradiation, and re-measured after each irradiation step. Task 3 - Transport critical current measurement of irradiated Nb3Sn samples The scaling of irradiation on Nb3Sn samples established through the screening performed in Task 2 will be verified by direct transport critical current measurements at selected neutron fluences. The present estimate of the fluences is in the range of 0.4 and 1x1022 1/m². The Nb3Sn samples will be measured prior to and following irradiation.

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Grant funds

  • Vereine, Stiftungen, Preise Type of funder Vereine, Stiftungen, Preise Specific program CERN,Organisation européenne pour la Recherche nucléaire

Research focus

  • Materials Characterization: 100%

Keywords

GermanEnglish
CERN-LHC UpgradeCERN-LHC Upgrade
Supraleitende MagneteSuperconducting magnets
Nb3Sn unter StrahlenbelastungNb3Sn under neutron irradiation

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