High Field YBCO Magnet Technology for Muon Cooling

Superconducting YBCO coated conductors, originally developed for high temperature operation, carry significant current even in the presence of extremely high magnetic fields, when they operate at low temperature. The successful design of the magnets needed for high energy physics applications using such high-field YBCO depends critically on engineering property issues, including the dependence of critical current on multi-axis strain, and on failure limits in the event of a quench. In this project, YBCO will be evaluated for high-field accelerator use by concentrating on the design of an innovative solenoid magnet that would have a useful role in muon beam cooling. Phase I will (1) develop and analyze a conceptual design of a high-field solenoid using the YBCO conductor, (2) measure the electro-mechanical properties of YBCO, (3) determine the maximum engineering current density (Je) as a function of temperature and multi-axis strain, and (4) measure the YBCO coil quench properties and quench-related failure limits. Commercial Applications and other Benefits as described by the awardee: The high-field magnet, designed in this project, should have an immediate use as an essential part of the cooling chain for a muon collider. The expertise gained from this project also should enable the use of YBCO in very high-field solenoids, dipoles, and quadrupoles for applications in future particle accelerators. Also, high-field solenoid magnets would be essential for NMR research in physics, biology, chemistry, and material science.