There is an urgent need at neutron user-facilities worldwide to eliminate problems caused by magnetic stray fields from high-field, split-pair superconducting magnets. There is also a growing demand within the neutron scattering community for high-field, split-pair magnets that can be used for polarized beam experiments without sacrificing field strength or field uniformity. None of the currently available high-field, split-pair magnets address all of these needs. This project will develop a novel 'hybrid asymmetric' magnet concept that produces maximum field strength with an appropriate asymmetric field profile, maintains high uniformity within a relatively large sample volume, and incorporates self-shielding as an integral part of the system concept. The system will produce a uniform 10 to 15 Tesla vertical field at the sample position, with drastically reduced stray fields, and a field profile suitable for polarized and unpolarized neutron works. In Phase I, an analysis will be performed to provide a series of self-shielded high-field split-pair magnet designs. The designs will be evaluated to determine the impact on polarized and unpolarized neutron operations and the sample environment requirements, based on the needs of the neutron scattering community. A prototype 10 to15 Tesla, self-shielded hybrid-asymmetric magnet, with adequate bore and transverse aperture, will be produced.
Commercial Applications and Other Benefits as described by the awardee: The unique aperture requirements for neutron scattering make passive shielding with iron impractical, yet no neutron facility in the world features an actively-shielded or self-shielded magnet. Therefore, a versatile high-field, self-shielded magnet should be in great demand as existing neutron facilities are upgraded in the future. The technology also should benefit other applications in high energy physics that use high field superconducting magnets
