Magnesium diboride superconducting strand for accelerator and light source applications

The U.S. Dept. of Energy's goal for multifilamentary (MF) strand intended for accelerator applications includes current densities; J(c), of up to 1200 A/mm(2) in fields of 12-16 T. Although MgB2 films possess B(c2)s at 0 K as high as 50 T, and J(c)s (self field) as high as 10(7) A/cm(2) have been reported, it may be several years before the above goal is attained. in round MF MgB2 wire. But when its electrical properties become suitable MgB2's critical temperature of 39 K will be an added advantage in the accelerator magnets' high radiation environment. In the meantime, some near-term applications have been identified; Continually improving properties may enable MgB, to be used in the windings of: (i) undulator magnet upgrades and replacements, (ii) wiggler magnets, (iii) light source bending magnet replacements, or (iv) some of the lower field solenoids of a proposed muon collider. Active research-and-development programs are yielding MgB2 strands with some remarkable properties: critical fields B-c2 and B-irr in the ranges 28-33 T and 24-29 T, respectively, and J(c) (4.2 K)s in the range 1.1-5.5 x 10(5) A/cm(2), 5-2 T, respectively. Recent superconducting undulator (SCU) magnets are calling for J(c), B-W (winding-field), B-0 (beam-line field) combinations such as 1.1 x 10(5) A/cm(2), 3.3 T, 1.0 T. These specifications, in the light of its existing performance levels, indicate MgB's potential suitability for the windings of SCU's. A model MgB2 coil-set is described.