HTS Demonstrator Magnet for Space (HDMS)
Towards the first superconducting magnet in space
Towards the first superconducting magnet in space
In space, high-field superconducting magnets based on high temperature superconductive (HTS) materials can have several promising applications: from very high resolution astroparticle spectrometry, to active shielding to protect astronauts from harmful radiation, and even debris removal.
One leading project in this field is the HTS Demonstrator Magnet for Space (HDMS), developed with the Italian Space Agency (ASI), the University of Trento, TIFPA and INFN Milano. In the event of a successful demonstration, a scaled-up model could be integrated into a space experiment to become the first ever superconducting magnet for space.
ARCOS (Astroparticle Research Compact Orbital Spectrometer) is a conceptual compact magnetic spectrometer operating in space. Gathering the same partners, it relies on the development of a high-field HTS magnet system suitable for long-term operation in space. An HTS demonstrator coil for the ARCOS magnet is being built within the HDMS project.
The ARCOS magnet is a 12-coil toroidal HTS magnet for a proposed next-generation magnetic spectrometer in space.
AMaSED-2 is a demonstrator magnet for a single coil pack of the ARCOS magnet and it contains two pancake coils.
- The pancake layers of AMaSED-2 have a racetrack-like shape, where circular arcs with a small curvature replace the straight parts of the racetrack shape to ensure contact between successive winding turns.
- The cable used is a two-tape stack in face-to-face configuration of 12 mm wide HTS tape.
- Each pancake coil is wound without turn-to-turn insulation to obtain self-protection against quenching.
- An inner copper band transfers the current between HTS tape and copper over the entire circumference of the innermost winding turn and functions as layer jump to the other pancake coil.
- An outer copper band functions as current lead and transfers the current between copper and HTS tape over the entire circumference of the outermost winding turn.
- The mechanical structure is made from aluminum alloy to be both strong and lightweight.
| June 2018 | Start of the project |
| December 2019 | Conceptual design of the ARCOS magnet finished |
| June 2020 | Detailed design of the demonstrator coil finished |
| July 2021 | Manufacturing of the mechanical test coil AMaSED-0 finished |
| September 2021 | Manufacturing of the electrical test coil AMaSED-1 finished |
| October 2021 | Manufacturing of the final demonstrator coil AMaSED-2 finished |
| December 2021 | Testing of AMaSED-1 finished |
| February 2022 | Testing of AMaSED-2 finished |
M. Dam et al “Conceptual design of a high temperature superconducting magnet for a particle physics experiment in space” Supercond. Sci. Technol. 33 044012 (2020)
M. Dam et al “A high temperature superconducting demonstrator coil for ARCOS: a novel toroidal magnetic spectrometer for an astroparticle physics experiment in space” PoS ICRC2021 498 (2021)
M. Dam et al “Design and Modeling of AMaSED-2: A High Temperature Superconducting Demonstrator Coil for the Space Spectrometer ARCOS” IEEE Trans. Appl. Supercond. 32, 4500105 (2022)
M. Dam et al “Manufacturing and testing of AMaSED-2: a no-insulation high-temperature superconducting demonstrator coil for the space spectrometer ARCOS” Supercond. Sci. Technol. 36, 014007 (2022)