Design and development of a MgB{sub 2}-based sector dipole and beam transport channel for a strong-focusing cyclotron

A superconducting strong focusing cyclotron is being developed for high current applications. The ∼1 T sector dipoles incorporate superconducting main windings, and alternating-gradient focusing is provided by ∼6 Tm{sup –1} superconducting beam transport channels along the arced beam trajectory of each orbit of the cyclotron. All windings utilize MgB{sub 2} superconductor operating in the temperature window 15–20K. The main dipole windings are fabricated using the react-and-wind method; the beam transport channel windings are fabricated using the wind-and-react method. Previous reports have indicated that even wind and react MgB{sub 2} conductors can be irreversibly damaged by bending strain in the unreacted state. To determine the feasibility of MgB{sub 2} conductors for the beam transport channel windings, the dependence of critical current on bending radius of commercial wires was measured.