Testing has begun at Diamond Light Source, the UK’s national synchrotron facility, 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 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, tuneable 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 Tuneable Optics magnet (ZEPTO) is a permanent, tuneable 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 kicks off a year-long demonstrator to confirm that it is as reliable and robust as a conventional electromagnet.
During the test, one magnet is expected to save an estimated 136 kg CO2 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 Centre, 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 generations 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 more sustainable
The ZEPTO magnet, developed under STFC’s Proof of Concept Fund, is part of STFC’s growing Sustainable Accelerators Programme and is just one demonstration of STFC’s commitment to making accelerators more sustainable.
Professor Clarke added:
“It’s hugely exciting to be applying our expertise to make particle accelerators more 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.”
