HTS REBCO dipole

ASG Superconductors is developing a fully high-temperature superconducting (HTS) dipole magnet within IRIS (Innovative Research Infrastructure on Applied Superconductivity), a strategic research initiative coordinated by INFN to accelerate the development of next-generation superconducting technologies. Designed by ASG with the support of the INFN  and manufactured  at ASG’s Genoa facility, the magnet represents an important step toward the future of high-field accelerator magnets and advanced superconducting applications.

A cornerstone of the project is the implementation of REBCO (Rare Earth Barium Copper Oxide) coated conductors, a technology that offers significant advantages over conventional low-temperature superconductors such as Nb-Ti and Nb₃Sn. REBCO maintains high current-carrying capability under extremely intense magnetic fields, enabling operation beyond the practical limits of traditional accelerator magnet technologies and opening the path toward magnetic fields required for future energy-frontier research facilities.

The magnet incorporates twelve REBCO racetrack coils arranged in a 6+6 configuration together with advanced Metal Insulation technology. This design enhances the resilience and protection of the winding system, contributing to the reliable operation of high-field HTS magnets and supporting the development of future accelerator technologies.

A key advantage of the magnet is its operation at approximately 20 K, significantly higher than the temperatures typically required by conventional superconducting accelerator magnets. Operating in this intermediate cryogenic range reduces dependence on liquid helium, simplifies cryogenic infrastructure, improves overall energy efficiency and contributes to more sustainable and cost-effective magnet systems.

Beyond demonstrating advanced HTS magnet technology developed by ASG, the IRIS dipole serves as a strategic platform for the development of future high-field accelerator magnets, supporting long-term R&D programmes for next-generation scientific infrastructures, including the Future Circular Collider (FCC) at CERN. The knowledge, design methodologies and technological solutions validated through this project will contribute to the advancement of more compact, energy-efficient and sustainable superconducting systems, with potential applications extending from fusion energy and large-scale research facilities to advanced medical, industrial and high-field scientific infrastructures.

By combining ASG’s industrial expertise with cutting-edge superconducting research, the IRIS magnet represents a significant step towards a new generation of HTS magnets capable of delivering unprecedented magnetic-field performance while reducing the complexity and energy demands of cryogenic operation. These advances are expected to accelerate the adoption of superconducting technologies across a wide range of scientific and technological domains, supporting the transition towards more efficient and sustainable high-performance systems.