PBL Services
Examples of PBL Services
The $2 Billion Electron Ion Collider (EIC) is the next major accelerator to be built in the US. The EIC has very demanding magnet specifications near the critical interaction region. The PBL/BNL team is working on an integral optimal magnet design that will allow for more precise and higher energy collisions, which will in turn enable a better understanding of nuclear physics.
Our Technical Team has the wide range of expertise needed for your magnet design needs.
Our Expertise
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Superconducting materials
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Electronics
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Diagnostics
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COMSOL analysis
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ROXIE analysis
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Quench Protection designs
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Material Science expertise
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Cryogenics
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Lorentz Force analysis
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Fiberglass Roving
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Epoxy
PBL has a long and successful history of developing cutting edge magnet technology for the worlds most advanced particle accelerators. Our work combines the use of cutting edge computational tools such as COMSOL with experience gained over decades in national laboratory environments. We've developed world record technology, producing the highest magnetic field ever achieved for a high temperature superconducting magnet in 2014, and recently we've been at the forefront of efforts to build more compact and higher field quality magnets for the ongoing Electron Ion Collider as well as for future colliders such as the Future Circular Collider and a possible Muon Collider.
Research & Development
PBL's first patent, issued in 2017, is entitled “A Low Temperature Superconductor and Aligned High Temperature Superconductor Magnetic Dipole System and Method for Producing High Magnetic Fields”. This patent gives the PBL/BNL team intellectual property rights over a technique of aligning high temperature superconducting tape in a wide variety of field configurations, a technique which is important wherever hybrid LTS/HTS superconducting magnets are used.
Our second patent, which is pending, is entitled "An Open Midplane, High Magnetic Field Solenoid System and Method for Neutron or X-Ray Scattering Analysis". This second patent provides a technique for significantly improving magnetic fields used for neutron and X-Ray scattering, which can in many instances be superior to MRI.
Intellectual Property
Our team of skilled magnet physicists, magnet engineers and scientists work to first clearly understand our partners technical needs. Once the performance goals and project are understood, we then align our staffing to the unique needs of your program. We then define the scope of work needed to address your specific needs.
Our Approach
In our larger multi-year programs, PBL team members integrate with your company’s engineers, scientists and technicians to effectively communicate results and progress and support the overall project. In one ongoing project, PBL currently serves in an effort to design a novel superconducting magnet that would be useful for the Electron Ion Collider.
A Hybrid HTS/LTS Superconductor Design for High-Field Accelerator Magnets.
Very high field magnets made with ReBCO high temperature superconducting tape are needed for Future circular colliders (atom smashers). We performed a real demonstration of an actual high field hybrid magnet using traditional low temperature superconducting coils in concert with ReBCO coils.
An Accelerator Quality High-Field Common Coil Dipole Magnet
The next generation “atom smashers” will require beam bending magnets that must be stronger, lower in cost, and higher in reliability than those used in previous high energy accelerators. We explored an alternative design that should be less expensive and easier to build than the present designs.
High-Field, Large Aperture Quadrupoles for the EIC
The proposed electron-ion-collider will require special high field quadrupole magnets for ion beams so that the electron beams can operate under the needed low field conditions. We explored alternative designs that are flexible and should be less expensive and easier to build than the present designs.
Field Compensation in EIC Magnets with Passive SC Shield
The proposed electron-ion-collider will require shielding of the high field ion beam magnets so that the electron beams can operate under the needed low field conditions. This proposal will explore an alternative design that should be less expensive and easier to build than the present designs.
HTS Solenoid for Neutron Scattering
A High Temperature, high field (25 Tesla) Solenoid for Neutron Scattering is critical for advancing the science of neutron scattering, which many consider to be the most valuable—commercially as well as academically of all tools for investigating matter.
Quench Protection for a Neutron Scattering Magnet
A new generation of high field magnets utilizing high temperature superconductors are being developed for applications such as neutron scattering spectroscopy. PBL investigated an innovative approach to protecting high field magnets from damage that can occur when the superconductors lose their superconductivity due to heating.
Overpass/Underpass Coil Design for High-Field Dipoles
The next generation “atom smashers” will require dipole magnets of very high magnetic field. The PBL/BNL team has developed an innovative block coil design that can be used to make magnets shorter and more reliable.
Superconducting Magnet for the EIC
The proposed electron-ion-collider will need several short, medium field superconducting magnets. This proposal will not only reduce the cost and increase the reliability of magnets for the EIC but will also demonstrate a new type of efficient magnet design and construction applicable to various accelerator, medical and other applications.
Our Projects
Our Capabilities
PBL has a scientific staff with a great track record, as we have already produced the world’s largest magnetic field magnets in the past, and we are confident that our team will continue to meet the technical goals of our partners into the future. Our teams of scientific and technical staff are expert in various topics related to particle accelerators. PBL employees include two former heads of magnet divisions from two DOE laboratories (BNL and LBNL) who have successfully worked with private industries in building superconducting magnets. PBL staff also includes experienced personnel in federal contract and grant administration, marketing and legal. PBL partners with Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL) in winding and testing the HTS and LTS coils.
PBL has experience in the patenting process, including patent search, preparation of all parts of the application; submittal of the application and dealing with Patent Office Actions. PBL also utilizes the services of Dan Swayze, our patent attorney. Dan Swayze will do an independent careful study of the patent documents and suggest any changes. PBL and Dan Swayze will then work together to achieve the final documents for submission. This process is presently working well, as it was successfully applied on PBL’s first patent, with Patent number 9793036: “A Low Temperature Superconductor and Aligned High Temperature Superconductor Magnetic Dipole System and Method for Producing High Magnetic Fields” and our Patent Pending: “An Open Midplane, High Magnetic Field Solenoid System and Method for Neutron or X-Ray Scattering Analysis”.
PBL frequently partners with the Superconducting Magnet Division (SMD) at BNL. SMD at BNL has been a major force in the development of accelerator magnets for many decades. It has a staff of over 35, including scientists, engineers, technicians, and administrative staff. It has a 55,000 square foot multipurpose R&D complex with a variety of tooling and machines. Among the elements of the dedicated equipment in the facility are several computer-controlled, automated coil-winding machines, automated-cycle curing and soldering stations, centralized exhaust-vent systems, and hydraulic presses. Of interest for many projects are two direct wind machines that were used by the PBL/BNL team in a recent project. These machines can be used for winding of advanced superconducting coils. The PBL/BNL team has access to a variety of simulation and engineering software tools which includes ROXIE, OPERA2d, OPERA3d and in-house software for magnetic design, ANSYS and COMSOL for mechanical design, and CREO and AutoCAD for engineering design. The magnet division has also developed an array of magnet design software, such IntegralOpt, which is being used and further developed for the optimum integral design. A prominent asset of the complex is an active cryogenic test facility, complete with high-current, high-resolution and high-stability power supplies. The facility allows testing of a variety of superconductors, coils and magnets from ~2 K to ~80 K. Within the building complex are two machine shops with capacity to manufacture many components needed for the R&D tasks. PBL has a scientific staff with a great track record, as we have already produced the world’s largest magnetic field magnets in the past, and we are confident that our team will continue to meet the technical goals of our partners into the future. Our teams of scientific and technical staff are expert in various topics related to particle accelerators. PBL employees include two former heads of magnet divisions from two DOE laboratories (BNL and LBNL) who have successfully worked with private industries in building superconducting magnets. PBL staff also includes experienced personnel in federal contract and grant administration, marketing and legal. PBL partners with Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL) in winding and testing the HTS and LTS coils. PBL has experience in the patenting process, including patent search, preparation of all parts of the application; submittal of the application and dealing with Patent Office Actions. PBL also utilizes the services of Dan Swayze, our patent attorney. Dan Swayze will do an independent careful study of the patent documents and suggest any changes. PBL and Dan Swayze will then work together to achieve the final documents for submission. This process is presently working well, as it was successfully applied on PBL’s first patent, with Patent number 9793036: “A Low Temperature Superconductor and Aligned High Temperature Superconductor Magnetic Dipole System and Method for Producing High Magnetic Fields” and our Patent Pending: “An Open Midplane, High Magnetic Field Solenoid System and Method for Neutron or X-Ray Scattering Analysis”.