New energy-saving super magnet gets first test run

Testing has begun at Diamond Light Source for an energy-saving super-magnet, designed and built by the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC), for our next generation of particle accelerator.

Particle accelerators are responsible for some of our greatest scientific breakthroughs in history, such as the discovery of the Higgs boson at CERN’s Large Hadron Collider.

The world needs these powerful and highly complex machines to enable research that is essential for developing important green technologies, such as better solar cells and more efficient batteries.

Beaming at the speed of light

One particle accelerator can use thousands of high-power, tunable electromagnets to bend and focus a beam through the machine, close to the speed of light. However, these consume vast amounts of electricity to operate and cool.

Designed by scientists and engineers at STFC’s Daresbury Laboratory, at Sci-Tech Daresbury, the zero power tunable optics magnet (ZEPTO) is a permanent, tunable magnet that consumes zero electrical power.

ZEPTO offers the same flexibility as an electromagnet but does not require power to produce a magnetic field, which could save dramatically on the cost and scale of future particle accelerators.

The Diamond test

Energy consumption and the associated financial and environmental cost are key challenges faced when building a next generation particle accelerator.

ZEPTO’s successful commissioning at Diamond, the U.K.’s national synchrotron accelerator, kicks off a year-long demonstrator to confirm that it is as reliable and robust as a conventional electromagnet.

During the test, 1 magnet is expected to save an estimated 136 kg of carbon dioxide compared with a conventional electromagnet, with the carbon payback anticipated to be within a year of operation.

Technology for future accelerators

Professor Jim Clarke, Director of STFC’s Accelerator Science and Technology Center, who led the design and development of the ZEPTO magnet, said, “The development of the ZEPTO magnet confirms STFC’s ability to design and build the brand-new technologies required to build the world’s next generation of research facilities more affordably and sustainably.

“I’m so proud to see it installed and running successfully for the first time on an operational facility. This is a significant step in the development for this innovative magnet.”

Making particle accelerators sustainable

The ZEPTO magnet, developed under STFC’s Proof of Concept Fund, is part of STFC’s growing Sustainable Accelerators program. It is just one demonstration of STFC’s commitment to making accelerators sustainable.

Professor Clarke added, “It’s hugely exciting to be applying our expertise to make particle accelerators environmentally and financially sustainable, for the benefit of our environment and economy. This important project is just one example of how accelerator scientists, engineers and technicians at STFC are supporting STFC’s aim to be net zero by 2040.”

Provided by
UK Research and Innovation