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Title: Beam current sensor

Abstract

A current sensor for measuring the DC component of a beam of charged particles employs a superconducting pick-up loop probe, with twisted superconducting leads in combination with a Superconducting Quantum Interference Device (SQUID) detector. The pick-up probe is in the form of a single-turn loop, or a cylindrical toroid, through which the beam is directed and within which a first magnetic flux is excluded by the Meisner effect. The SQUID detector acts as a flux-to-voltage converter in providing a current to the pick-up loop so as to establish a second magnetic flux within the electrode which nulls out the first magnetic flux. A feedback voltage within the SQUID detector represents the beam current of the particles which transit the pick-up loop. Meisner effect currents prevent changes in the magnetic field within the toroidal pick-up loop and produce a current signal independent of the beam's cross-section and its position within the toroid, while the combination of superconducting elements provides current measurement sensitivites in the nano-ampere range.

Inventors:
 [1];  [2]
  1. Elmhurst, IL
  2. Elburn, IL
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (FNAL), Batavia, IL (United States)
OSTI Identifier:
866344
Patent Number(s):
US 4687987
Assignee:
United States of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)
DOE Contract Number:  
AC02-76CH03000
Resource Type:
Patent
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
beam; current; sensor; measuring; dc; component; charged; particles; employs; superconducting; pick-up; loop; probe; twisted; leads; combination; quantum; interference; device; squid; detector; form; single-turn; cylindrical; toroid; directed; magnetic; flux; excluded; meisner; effect; flux-to-voltage; converter; providing; establish; electrode; nulls; feedback; voltage; represents; transit; currents; prevent; changes; field; toroidal; produce; signal; independent; cross-section; position; elements; provides; measurement; sensitivites; nano-ampere; range; superconducting element; feedback voltage; current measurement; conducting elements; superconducting elements; beam current; quantum interference; magnetic flux; charged particles; magnetic field; charged particle; current signal; current sensor; superconducting quantum; interference device; provides current; voltage converter; ampere range; dc component; /324/336/505/

Citation Formats

Kuchnir, Moyses, and Mills, Frederick E. Beam current sensor. United States: N. p., 1987. Web.
Kuchnir, Moyses, & Mills, Frederick E. Beam current sensor. United States.
Kuchnir, Moyses, and Mills, Frederick E. 1987. "Beam current sensor". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/866344.
@article{osti_866344,
title = {Beam current sensor},
author = {Kuchnir, Moyses and Mills, Frederick E},
abstractNote = {A current sensor for measuring the DC component of a beam of charged particles employs a superconducting pick-up loop probe, with twisted superconducting leads in combination with a Superconducting Quantum Interference Device (SQUID) detector. The pick-up probe is in the form of a single-turn loop, or a cylindrical toroid, through which the beam is directed and within which a first magnetic flux is excluded by the Meisner effect. The SQUID detector acts as a flux-to-voltage converter in providing a current to the pick-up loop so as to establish a second magnetic flux within the electrode which nulls out the first magnetic flux. A feedback voltage within the SQUID detector represents the beam current of the particles which transit the pick-up loop. Meisner effect currents prevent changes in the magnetic field within the toroidal pick-up loop and produce a current signal independent of the beam's cross-section and its position within the toroid, while the combination of superconducting elements provides current measurement sensitivites in the nano-ampere range.},
doi = {},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/866344}, journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1987},
month = {Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1987}
}