On the 12^th of October 2023 ASG and CERN celebrated at ASG Superconductors, in Genova – Italy, the completion of the production of the 1450 km of MgB₂ round wire specifically developed for the HL-LHC Superconducting Link project.

The event marked the successful completion of a story of superconducting innovation that started with R&D on a novel, round and robust, higher temperature superconducting wire, targeted for transferring high current at temperatures of above 25 K, and ended up in a large industrial production. The wire, which has finally been produced in unit lengths exceeding 3.5 km – a unique result for a high temperature superconductor ! - is a key component of the Superconducting Link for HL-LHC.

The effort put during the R&D phase in enhancing mechanical properties of the wire after reaction enabled implementation of the complex cabling for the Superconducting Link: eight high current MgB₂ transmission lines, operated in a forced flow of helium gas, will feed the HL-LHC superconducting magnets. An example of a virtuous collaboration between CERN and industry, which brought to the successful development and industrialization of the first ex-situ MgB₂ superconducting wire produced in large scale and used in a high current (about 120 kA) power transmission project. The availability of the wire and associated cables opens now the way to other applications. This includes power transmission in different domains and energy efficient magnets. 

By Amalia Ballarino, WP6A Leader

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