By Amalia Ballarino (CERN)
Following the successful qualification of the first Cold Powering System for the Inner Triplets (the new quadrupoles that will be either side of the interaction points at Points 1 and 5) last year, a second identical system was assembled and qualified at CERN in June 2025. Measurements were carried out at the purpose-built Cluster F2 test bench in SM18. The system reached the maximum current deliverable by the power converters — 94 kA in DC mode — and demonstrated stable and reproducible cryogenic, electrical and mechanical performance.
This second system also served to qualify the REBCO conductor procured for the series production. Low-resistance splices were measured across all termination types, i.e. Nb-Ti, MgB₂, and REBCO and the high voltage tests conducted at various temperature levels confirmed the electrical robustness of the design.
The WP6A team is now already working on the assembly of two additional systems for the Triplets, which are planned to be completed in 2025.