The European Space Radiation Superconductive Shield (SR2S) project aims to demonstrate the realization of an active magnetic shielding technology to protect astronauts from cosmic radiation in the space environment by using superconductive technology. In the framework of this project, CERN will test, in the coming months, a racetrack coil wound with an MgB2 superconducting tape. The prototype coil has the goal of qualifying the winding technique and of characterizing long lengths of an MgB2 conductor specifically designed for this application by Columbus Superconductor.

The coil, which will be tested at 4.2 K in a liquid helium bath, will be instrumented with voltage taps, strip and spot heaters; it will be protected via a dedicated Quench Detection System (QDS), an external dump resistor and strip heaters. A fast Data Acquisition System (DAQ) will monitor the voltage across the different coil sections during the magnet energisation and quench (i.e. irreversible transition from the superconducting to the normal state). The test will allow CERN to assess the performance of the MgB2 superconductor when wound with a geometrical shape that is representative of the one used in the final magnet. In particular, thanks to this test, CERN will be able to: quantify the maximum magnetic field and current withstood by the superconducting coil and; to study the quench propagation in the conductor.

Bernardo Bordini
TE-MSC-SCD

CERN (European Organization for Nuclear Research,
Geneva,
Switzerland.