M. L. Lopes

Solenoid Magnet System for the Fermilab Mu2e Experiment

The Fermilab Mu2e experiment seeks to measure the rare process of direct muon to electron conversion in the field of a nucleus. Key to the design of the experiment is a system of three superconducting solenoids; a muon production solenoid (PS) which is a 1.8 m aperture axially graded solenoid with a peak field of 5 T used to focus secondary pions and muons from a production target located in the solenoid aperture; an “S shaped” transport solenoid (TS) which selects and transports the subsequent muons towards a stopping target; a detector solenoid (DS) which is an axially graded solenoid at the upstream end to focus transported muons to a stopping target, and a spectrometer solenoid at the downstream end to accurately measure the momentum of the outgoing conversion electrons. The magnetic field requirements, the significant magnetic coupling between the solenoids, the curved muon transport geometry and the large beam induced energy deposition into the superconducting coils pose significant challenges to the magnetic, mechanical, and thermal design of this system. In this paper a conceptual design for the magnetic system which meets the Mu2e experiment requirements is presented.

Test Results of a Superconducting Quadrupole Model Designed for Linear Accelerator Applications

The first model of a superconducting quadrupole for use in a Linear Accelerator was designed, built and tested at Fermilab. The quadrupole has a 78 mm aperture, and a cold mass length of 680 mm. A superferric magnet configuration with iron poles and four racetrack coils was chosen based on magnet performance, cost, and reliability considerations. Each coil is wound using enamel insulated, 0.5 mm diameter, NbTi superconductor. The quadrupole package also includes racetrack type dipole steering coils. The results of the quadrupole design, manufacturing and test, are presented. Specific issues related to the quadrupole magnetic center stability, superconductor magnetization and mechanical stability are discussed. The magnet quench performance and results of magnetic measurements will also be briefly discussed.

Challenges and Design of the Transport Solenoid for the Mu2e Experiment at Fermilab

The Fermilab Mu2e experiment seeks to measure the rare process of direct muon to electron conversion in the field of a nucleus. The magnet system for this experiment is made of three warm-bore solenoids: the Production Solenoid (PS), the Transport Solenoid (TS), and the Detector Solenoid (DS). The TS is an “S-shaped” solenoid set between the other bigger solenoids. The Transport Solenoid has a warm-bore aperture of 0.5 m and field between 2.5 and 2.0 T. The PS and DS have, respectively warm-bore aperture of 1.5 m and 1.9 m, and peak field of 4.6 T and 2 T. In order to meet the field specifications, the TS starts inside the PS and ends inside the DS. The strong coupling with the adjacent solenoids poses several challenges to the design and operation of the Transport Solenoid. The coil layout has to compensate for the fringe field of the adjacent solenoids. The quench protection system should handle all possible quench and failure scenarios in all three solenoids. The support system has to be able to withstand very different forces depending on the powering status of the adjacent solenoids. In this paper, the conceptual design of the Transport Solenoid is presented and discussed focusing on these coupling issues and the proposed solutions.

Mu2e Transport Solenoid Prototype Tests Results

The Fermilab Mu2e experiment has been developed to search for evidence of charged lepton flavor violation through the direct conversion of muons into electrons. The transport solenoid is an s-shaped magnet that guides the muons from the source to the stopping target. It consists of 52 superconducting coils arranged in 27 coil modules. A full-size prototype coil module, with all the features of a typical module of the full assembly, was successfully manufactured by a collaboration between INFN-Genoa and Fermilab. The prototype contains two coils that can be powered independently. To validate the design, the magnet went through an extensive test campaign. Warm tests included magnetic measurements with a vibrating stretched wire and electrical and dimensional checks. The cold performance was evaluated by a series of power tests and temperature dependence and minimum quench energy studies.

Tolerance Studies of the Mu2e Solenoid System

The muon-to-electron conversion experiment at Fermilab is designed to explore charged lepton flavor violation. It is composed of three large superconducting solenoids, namely, the production solenoid, the transport solenoid, and the detector solenoid. Each subsystem has a set of field requirements. Tolerance sensitivity studies of the magnet system were performed with the objective of demonstrating that the present magnet design meets all the field requirements. Systematic and random errors were considered on the position and alignment of the coils. The study helps to identify the critical sources of errors and which are translated to coil manufacturing and mechanical support tolerances.

Reference Design of the Mu2e Detector Solenoid

The Mu2e experiment at Fermilab has been approved by the Department of Energy to proceed with the development of the preliminary design. Integral to the success of Mu2e is the superconducting solenoid system. One of the three major solenoids is the detector solenoid that houses the stopping target and the detectors. The goal of the detector solenoid team is to produce detailed design specifications that are sufficient for vendors to produce the final design drawings, tooling and fabrication procedures and proceed to production. In this paper we summarize the reference design of the detector solenoid.

Design and Manufacturing Main Linac Superconducting Quadrupole for ILC at Fermilab

The design and manufacturing of the first model of an International Linear Collider (ILC) Main Linac superconducting quadrupole is in progress at Fermilab. The quadrupole has a 78 mm aperture, a 36 T integrated gradient, and a cold mass length of 700 mm. A superferric magnet configuration with iron poles and four racetrack coils was chosen based on magnet performance, cost, and reliability considerations. Each coil is wound using enamel insulated, 0.5 mm diameter, NbTi superconductor. The quadrupole package also includes shell type dipole steering coils. The results of the quadrupole design, including magnetic and mechanical analyses, are presented. Specific issues related to the quadrupole magnetic center stability, superconductor magnetization and mechanical stability are discussed and analyzed. The magnet quench protection system, current leads, and mounting the quadrupole inside ILC Main Linac cryomodule will also be briefly discussed.

Studies on the Magnetic Center of the Mu2e Solenoid System

The definition of the magnetic center in the Mu2e solenoid system is not trivial given the S-shaped nature of the transport solenoid. Moreover, due to the fringe field of the larger bore adjacent magnets-production solenoid and the detector solenoid-the magnetic center does not coincide with the geometric center of the system. The reference magnetic center can be obtained by tracking a low-momentum charged particle through the whole system. This paper will discuss this method and will evaluate the deviations from the nominal magnetic center given the tolerances in the manufacturing and the alignment of the coils. Methods for the correction of the magnetic center will also be presented.

Localization of Quenches and Mechanical Disturbances in the Mu2e Transport Solenoid Prototype Using Acoustic Emission Technique

Acoustic emission (AE) detection is a noninvasive technique allowing the localization of the mechanical events and quenches in superconducting magnets. Application of the AE technique is especially advantageous in situations where magnet integrity can be jeopardized by the use of voltage taps or inductive pickup coils. As the prototype module of the transport solenoid (TS) for the Mu2e experiment at Fermilab represents such a special case, we have developed a dedicated six-channel AE detection system and accompanying software aimed at localizing mechanical events during the coil cold testing. The AE sensors based on transversely polarized piezoceramic washers combined with cryogenic preamplifiers were mounted at the outer surface of the solenoid aluminum shell, with a 60° angular step around the circumference. Acoustic signals were simultaneously acquired at a rate of 500 kS/s, prefiltered and sorted based on their arrival time. Next, based on the arrival timing, angular and axial coordinates of the AE sources within the magnet structure were calculated. We present AE measurement results obtained during cooldown, spot heater firing, and spontaneous quenching of the Mu2e TS module prototype and discuss their relevance for mechanical stability assessment and quench localization.

Mu2e Transport Solenoid Prototype Design and Manufacturing

The Mu2e Transport Solenoid consists of 52 coils arranged in 27 coil modules that form the S-shaped cold mass. Each coil is wound from Al-stabilized NbTi superconductor. The coils are supported by an external structural aluminum shell machined from a forged billet. Most of the coil modules house two coils, with the axis of each coil oriented at an angle of approximately 5° with respect to each other. The coils are indirectly cooled with LHe circulating in tubes welded on the shell. In order to enhance the cooling capacity, pure aluminum sheets connect the inner bore of the coils to the cooling tubes. The coils are placed inside the shell by the means of a shrink-fit procedure. A full-size prototype, with all the features of the full assembly, was successfully manufactured in a collaboration between INFN Genova and Fermilab. In order to ensure an optimal mechanical prestress at the coil-shell interface, the coils are inserted into the shell through a shrink-fitting process. We present the details of the prototype with the design choices as validated by the structural analysis. The fabrication steps are described as well.