New superconducting magnets reach full power for HiLumi LHC upgrade

CERN has reached a significant milestone in particle physics. Earlier this month, researchers at the organization successfully powered a new generation of superconducting magnets to their full operating current. This work is a core component of the High-Luminosity Large Hadron Collider, a major upgrade intended to increase the collision rate of particles.

The new quadrupole magnets represent a clear technical leap. They feature niobium-tin superconducting coils that allow them to operate at 11.3 teslas. This is 35 percent higher than the current magnets in use at the facility. Engineers also increased the aperture from 70 millimeters to 150 millimeters. The wider opening allows for more precise beam focusing, which is necessary to gather larger datasets for physics research.

Testing took place at the Inner Triplet String facility. During the trial, the magnets achieved a design current of 16,230 amperes. A key success was the stability of these magnets. They reached their full capacity without experiencing a quench, which is a common issue where magnets transition from a superconducting state to normal electrical conduction. The team successfully validated the protection system, which safely managed 38 megajoules of stored magnetic energy.

The data gathered during these tests is currently under analysis. This information will guide the commissioning of the full collider system before it begins operations in 2030. These hardware upgrades are intended to help scientists detect rare phenomena that exist beyond the Standard Model. With the initial commissioning phase complete, the facility plans to conduct further tests in September to verify reproducibility and system interactions.