Catana

The  superconducting magnet upgrade project at INFN – Laboratori Nazionali del Sud (LNS) is part of the broader POTLNS program aimed at significantly enhancing the performance of an existing superconducting cyclotron.
The upgrade introduces a new stripping extraction method for ions, overcoming the limitations of traditional electrostatic deflectors and enabling a substantial step change in beam intensity and efficiency.
This transformation allows the facility to reach target beam intensities of up to approximately two orders of magnitude higher than previous levels—together with beam power up to 10 kW and an energy range spanning 15 to 70 MeV per nucleon. These enhancements position LNS as a leading infrastructure for advanced nuclear physics research.
The superconducting cyclotron  upgrade enables a significant expansion of the scientific capabilities of INFN LNS, supporting forefront research in nuclear physics.

 Key research areas include:

• Study of rare nuclear processes
• Investigation of nuclear matter under extreme conditions
• Production and utilization of radioactive ion beams

ASG Superconductors plays a central role in enabling this performance leap through the development of a high-field superconducting magnet system.

The company is responsible for the complete lifecycle of the magnet, including:

• Design and engineering
• Manufacturing and assembly
• Cryogenic testing and validation
• Final commissioning at the LNS site

ASG’s contribution leverages its expertise in superconducting technologies and complex cryogenic systems, delivering a reliable, high-performance solution tailored to the constraints of an existing accelerator infrastructure.

Technical Highlights

• Two couples of superconducting NbTi coils operating at 4.2 K
• Maximum magnetic field: 4.8 Tesla
• Integration within an existing cyclotron magnetic yoke
• Fully designed, manufactured, and tested by ASG