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The current status of the Texas A&M superconducting magnet R&D program is reported. The program is implementing a design philosophy in which Lorentz stress is managed within the coils of a block-coil geometry, isostatic preload is delivered using an arrangement of pressurized Wood's metal filled bladders, insulation utilizes fine-filament Silane-sized S-glass, and low-field multipoles are constrained by a flux plate integrated with the coil package. Construction progress on TAMU3 is reported and plans for a full-aperture dipole TAMU5 are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A second phase of a high field dipole technology development has been tested. A Nb3Sn block-coil model dipole was fabricated, using magnetic mirror geometry and wind/react coil technology. The primary objective of this phase was to make a first experimental test of the stress-management strategy pioneered at Texas A&M. In this strategy a high-strength support matrix is integrated with the windings to intercept Lorentz stress from the inner winding so that it does not accumulate in the outer winding. The magnet attained a field that was consistent with short sample limit on the first quench; there was no training. The decoupling of Lorentz stress between inner and outer windings was validated. In ramp rate studies the magnet exhibited a remarkable robustness in rapid ramping operation. It reached 85 % of short sample(ss) current even while ramping 2–3 T/s. This robustness is attributed to the orientation of the Rutherford cables parallel to the field in the windings, instead of the transverse orientation that characterizes common dipole designs. Test results are presented and the next development phase plans are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The second phase of development of a new high-field dipole technology has been completed. A model dipole employing wind/react Nb3Sn cable and stress-managed block coil geometry was fabricated and will soon be tested at LBNL. The dipole features stress-strain management in its internal windings and metal-filled bladder preload. Pending validation of performance of these new features, the new technology should result in improved cost-effective fabrication of dipoles for 16 T and beyond. Construction experience and plans for the next phase of development are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]