The Hindu : National : Scientists make superconducting magnet

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Tuesday, Jun 07, 2005

National

National

Scientists make superconducting magnet

Special Correspondent

Programme to use cryogenic technology

A magnetic field of about 48 kilogauss
Superconducting component is about 6.5 tonnes

Cost of cyclotron is Rs. 93 crore

KOLKATA: Scientists in the Department of Atomic Energy's Variable Energy Cyclotron Centre (VECC) here have made the largest superconducting magnet in the country, energised to produce a magnetic field of about 48 kilogauss. (The earth's magnetic field measures 0.3 gauss.)

The superconducting magnet "is the heart" of a K500 superconducting cyclotron "machine" being set up at the centre.

It is part of the programme to employ cryogenic technology on an industrial scale, Rakesh Kumar Bhandari, Associate Director, VECC, told The Hindu on Monday.

The superconducting component of the 100 tonnes heavy magnet is about 6.5 tonnes.

It is kept at minus 269 degrees Celsius. It has a diameter of nearly 3 metres and a height of 1.3 metres.

MRI applications

The technology has applications in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), medical diagnostics, energy storage and the rapid transport system having magnetic levitation devices.

The cyclotron, work on which began in 1997, should be ready in two years.

It will be the seventh such superconducting cyclotron in the world.

A superconducting cyclotron is a system in which advanced superconducting technology is used for producing very high magnetic fields for guiding the charged particles during acceleration to high velocities.

Major improvement

Being set up at a cost of about Rs. 93 crore, this cyclotron is a major development from the existing K 130 room-temperature cyclotrons, whose magnets are capable of producing magnetic fields of only 18 kilogauss, says Amitava Sur, head of the VECC's Research and Development, Cryogenics.

Scientists working on the superconducting magnet, set up recently, aim at energising it further to produce a magnetic field of 55 kilogauss.

Most of its components have been fabricated in the country.

To achieve high magnetic fields the energising coils, through which 550 amperes of current flows, remain at minus 269 degrees Celsius with about 300 litres of liquid helium in a special vessel, cryostat.

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