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Title: Testing of high current by-pass diodes for the LHC magnet quench protection

Journal Article · · IEEE Transactions on Magnetics
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1109/20.511530· OSTI ID:367690

Within the framework of the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) R and D program, CERN is performing experiments to establish the current carrying capability of irradiated diodes at liquid Helium temperatures for the superconducting magnet protection. Even if the diodes are degraded by radiation dose and neutron fluence, they must be able to support the by-pass current during a magnet quench and the de-excitation of the superconducting magnet ring. During this discharge, the current in the diode reaches a maximum value up to 13 kA and decreased with an exponential time constant of 100 s. Two sets of 75 mm wafer diameter epitaxial diodes, one irradiated and one non-irradiated, were submitted to this experiment. The irradiated diodes have been exposed to radiation in the accelerator environment up to 20 kGy and then annealed at room temperature. After the radiation exposure the diodes had shown a degradation of forward voltage of 50% which reduced to about 14% after the thermal annealing. During the long duration high current tests, one of the diodes was destroyed and the other two irradiated diodes showed a different behavior compared with non-irradiated diodes.

OSTI ID:
367690
Report Number(s):
CONF-950691-; ISSN 0018-9464; TRN: IM9640%%436
Journal Information:
IEEE Transactions on Magnetics, Vol. 32, Issue 4Pt1; Conference: 14. international conference on magnet technology, Tampere (Finland), 11-16 Jun 1995; Other Information: PBD: Jul 1996
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English