Modeling of highly anisotropic magnetic materials

Highly anisotropic magnetic materials, such as grain-oriented steel, have been shown to significantly increase the allowable peak fields in rapidly pulsed magnets, such as the magnets needed for the currently proposed rapid cycling syncrotron for muon acceleration. Detailed, cost-effective design of these magnets requires accurate computer-aided modeling of the magnetic field, but cur- rently available magnet design software fails to converge in highly-anisotropic magnetic problems. Statement of how this problem is being addressed In this project, we propose to develop a software product that Muon Acceleration Program re- searchers can use to accurately model magnets made from highly anisotropic magnetic materials, such as grain-oriented steel. In Phase I of this project, we will prototype a linear solver that is capable of accurately solving for the magnetic fields in highly anisotropic magnetic problems. We will measure the prototyped solver convergence rate, and develop a multi-level solver scheme that allows scalability to highly parallel simulation environments (such as super-computers). Commercial Applications and Other Benefits: Grain-oriented steel, and other such highly anisotropic magnetic materials, have been used in high- power transformers since the 1930s. These devices have traditionally been designed by hand, but computer aided magnet design for high-power transformers has the potential to lead to transformer designs with reduced power leakage, leading to greater efficiency and reduced operation costs.