In this lab we measure mainly Normal Conducting and Permanent Magnets. The lab is equipped with power converters up to 900 A and several test benches implement advanced measurement techniques (stretched wire, vibrating wire, rotating coils, fluxmeters, field mapper …). We also develop new instruments and there are specific tools for the calibration of the sensors.

On the 10 horizontal test benches, we can test all LHC main cryo-modules at temperatures between 1.9 and 4.5 K, with currents up to 20 kA. By using LHC conditions, we train and qualify the magnets before installation in the LHC or before designating them as spare magnets. Additional tests on the cryo-modules, such as magnetic field quality measurements, splice resistance measurements, and electrical insulation checks, are performed in these benches.

We have tested here all 1232 LHC main dipole and all 456 LHC main quadrupole cold masses, including their spares. Since 2019, we started a large reconstitution project to be able to timely test the cold masses for the HL-LHC upgrade, including the 11 T dipole and the low-beta inner triplet quadrupole.

Non-cryostated research and spare magnets, current leads and diodes can be tested in our five vertical test cryostats. These cryostats can operate in liquid helium between 1.9 and 4.5 K, and one of them can operate in helium gas up to 80 K.

In these stations, we perform thorough testing of research magnets, including studies of the protection elements in multiple conditions to validate models, training beyond the nominal current to see the intrinsic limits of the magnet, and endurance tests, such as repetitive thermal or mechanical cycling. Magnetic field measurements are typically done with dedicated rotating coil magnetometers operated at cryogenic temperature.

Some of the devices we tested in these cryostats include the Nb3Sn 11 T dipole and low-beta quadrupole short model magnets for HL-LHC, the world-record Fresca2 magnet, several NbTi spare magnets for LHC, tens of diodes for qualification and the REBCO Feather2 magnet.

A summary of the main characteristics of the five cryostats are given in the table below.

This lab is reserved for tests on radioactive normal conducting magnets. Units from SPS are regularly measured here after their refurbishment.

There are high-current power converters up to 6000A. In this lab, the available test benches are equipped with fluxmeters, rotating coils and stretched wires.