Nb₃Sn triplet (MQXF)

The most significant advancement has been the test of the third US-AUP full size magnet, named MQXFA03. The magnet reached nominal gradient with limited training and is the first magnet ready to be included in the first cold mass to be installed in the IT-String test. The test was particularly significant since it included coils manufactured by both production lines, in BNL and in FNAL. At CERN, the first 7.15 m long full-size prototype has been completed; the assembly includes a magnet in a temporary cold mass (without nested corrector) and in a cryostat. The test foreseen for April has been shifted to July due to the COVID-19 side effects; this will be the first horizontal test of a HL-LHC interaction region magnet.

Nested corrector (MCBXF)

The first prototype was tested at CERN at the beginning of 2019, requiring a fine tuning of the parameters of the mechanical assembly, namely a better preload of the coils. The third iteration was done in August 2019, with the magnet reaching nominal integrated field with both polarities, and minor limitations due to retraining when the direction of two fields is changed. Coils for a second prototype have been completed in CIEMAT, and assembly and test are foreseen in summer. Disruption due to the severe COVID-19 situation in Spain has been overcome, and activities are resuming now with the manufacturing of the coil of the third short corrector MCBXFB.

High order correctors

The beginning of the high order correctors’ production has been challenging, with fine tuning of the design of connection boxes and few significant non-conformities. Notwithstanding the severe conditions due to COVID-19 in the Italian regions where the contractors are located (Lombardy and Emilia-Romagna), the first decapole was completed in June and shall be tested in INFN-LASA in July, together with an iteration of the design of the skew quadrupole.

Separation dipole D1

After the successful completion of the short model program, KEK has attributed the prototype and series construction to Hitachi. In the first part of 2020, the tooling was installed and the first practice coil wound. In particular, an impressive rotating winding machine for the 7-m-long coil has been commissioned. Vertical test of the prototype is foreseen in early 2021.

Recombination dipole D2

In Genova, ASG started the activities related to the prototype manufacturing. Tooling has been installed and commissioned, and the first practice coil wound.

CCT correctors for D2

In X’ian, WST has completed the manufacturing of the first prototype; the test initially foreseen for April was delayed to June due to the slow-down in the activities imposed by COVID-19 limitations. The test is ongoing in IMP, Lanzhou, at the time of writing.

The second half of 2020 will see a significant number of magnet tests, namely three MQXF full size quadrupoles, one nested corrector, four high order correctors; results will be presented at the annual meeting of the collaboration in October.