U.S. Particle Accelerator School
Superconducting Accelerator Magnets
Sponsoring University:
Michigan State University
Course Name:
Superconducting Accelerator Magnets
Instructor:
Soren Prestemon and Steve Gourlay, Lawrence Berkeley National Lab
Purpose and Audience
This course will instruct students on the physics and technology of superconducting magnets for particle accelerators. It is suitable for undergraduate or graduate students with a particular interest in applied superconductivity. The course is also appropriate for physicists or engineers working in accelerator-related fields who wish to broaden their background.
Prerequisites
General knowledge of electromagnetism, thermo-dynamics and theory of elasticity.
It is the responsibility of the student to ensure that they meet the course prerequisites or have equivalent experience.
Objectives
On completion of this course, the students are expected to understand the basic physical principles behind a superconducting magnet for particle accelerators, to explain key parameters from a magnetic, mechanical and thermal point of view, and to perform preliminary design studies of superconducting magnet systems for diverse applications.
Instructional Method
This course includes a series of lectures in the morning and in the afternoon, followed by laboratory sessions on related subject matter. Problem sets, to be completed outside of scheduled class time, will be assigned in the lecture sessions. There will be an open-book final exam at the conclusion of the course.
Course Content
The course will begin with a review of basic accelerator physics concepts and a description of the main requirements (e.g. field, gradient, and aperture) for a particle accelerator magnet. Fundamental properties of superconducting materials (both low-temperature and high-temperature) will then be covered, with particular emphasis on the design of practical superconducting strands and cables for accelerator magnets.
We will introduce the main concepts of magnet design, starting from analytic description of field harmonics and proceeding to coil magnetic configurations and mechanical containment structures. Analysis and experimental techniques will be presented to address the associated issues, with particular attention to stress analysis and mitigation through appropriate structural and fabrication choices. Field quality will be discussed, both in terms of design and measurements.
Magnet stability and the quench phenomenon will be analyzed. Quench detection and system protection methods will be reviewed and related to conductor properties and magnet design.
Throughout the lectures, we will provide examples from past experience on accelerators to provide context for the material being discussed. Finally, an historical review of superconducting magnets in accelerators and their performance will also be presented.
Reading Requirements
To be provided by the USPAS "Superconducting Accelerator Magnets" by K. H. Mess, P. Schmuser, and S. Wolff, World Scientific Publishers (1996). Additional materials and lecture notes will be provided by the instructors.
Credit Requirements
Students evaluation will be based on the homework assignments (70% of final grade) and the final exam (30% of final grade).
Michigan State University course number: PHY 905 - 303 - Superconducting Accelerator Magnets
Indiana University course number: Physics 671, Advanced Topics in Accelerator Physics
MIT course number: 8.790, Accelerator Physics