"Proactive Strategies for Preventing Magnet Meltdowns"
Researchers at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory are developing a strategy to prevent magnet meltdowns in high-temperature superconducting (HTS) magnets by identifying conditions under which they can safely operate without the risk of sudden heat build-up causing the magnet to fail. By calculating a window of operational parameters in which the HTS conductor will work without spiraling out of control into a quench, they aim to detect signs of heat early and safely run down the current without quenching the magnet. Their approach, if successful, could enable widespread adoption of HTS magnets, leading to higher magnetic fields and cheaper maintenance, benefiting accelerator-driven research and fusion energy goals.