Photos & videos
This is a list of links to official CERN photos and videos showcasing our team and facilities.
Second HL-LHC Cold Powering System validated
Date: 18-07-2025
The second Cold Powering System for the HL-LHC was assembled and qualified at CERN in June 2025. Tests and measurements in SM18 demonstrated stable and reproducible performance, and confirmed the electrical robustness of the design. 8 of these systems will be in the HL-LHC in total (2 each side of both ATLAS and CMS interaction points), and each features a cryogenic distribution box called DFH which will be in the new HiLumi galleries and a cryogenic distribution box in the LHC tunnel, connected via a Superconducting Link.
Date: 27-05-2025
On 27 May 2025, 18 photographers had the exclusive opportunity to explore the world’s largest particle physics laboratory.
TE-MSC Open Days 2024 – B2173 / SM18
Date: 01-07-2024
SM18 holds a unique magnet test facility with a focus on a large capacity for qualification tests for the High Luminosity (HL-LHC). The TE team visited the magnet assemblies on the horizontal benches, advanced instrumentation and diagnostics tools for both investigating magnet behaviour and validating magnet performance. It has 5 vertical cryostats where all kind of magnet technology is tested with all materials, from NbTi, MgB2, Nb3Sn, HTS, diodes, leads, SClinks, and with around 20-30 different magnets per year it is very versatile. Presented during the visit: Horizontal test bench F1 and F2, with a Q2 magnet on bench in test. Showing the quench antenna and TV screen with data and animation of a quench. Vertical test bench with magnet on insert (HFM or cluster D). Basically the above shows all that is needed to test a magnet.
Testing of inner triplets quadrupole magnets on test bench in SM18 for HL-LHC
Date: 06-06-2024
The inner triplet is a set of quadrupole magnets that focus the beam to very small dimensions at the centre of the experiments. In hall SM18, the Q1, Q2 and Q3 quadrupole magnets are being tested on the test bench. These new high field and large-aperture quadrupole magnets for the low-beta inner triplets (Q1, Q2, Q3) have been built and are tested as part of the high-luminosity upgrade of the Large Hadron Collider (HL-LHC). The new quadrupole magnets are based on Nb3Sn superconducting technology. A pair of about 5 m long magnet structures are installed in a stainless-steel helium vessel (Cold Mass) and surrounded by cryostat shields, piping, and a vacuum vessel. One can also see the DFHX being tested. All this equipment is being prepared and tested for the High Luminosity project, which will make the particle collisions in the LHC experiments’ much more powerful.
HL-LHC Q2 quadrupole next to the first SC Link system on the test bench in SM18
Date: 15-04-2024
View from above showing the HL-LHC Q2 including a Nb3Sn quadrupole and a NbTi corrector magnet in its red cryostat on the test bench. Next to it is the SC Link, an innovative 70 meter long electrical transfer line using MgB2 superconductor technology. The transfer cables carried 94 kA during cold test inside the cryostat that is curling like a big silver python snake (see example CERN-PHOTO-202404-082-10). Its distribution feed box (DFX) cryostat (ex. CERN-PHOTO-202404-082-11) will be connected to the HL-LHC triplet magnets, while the DFHX includes HTS cables to a copper terminal that is connected to the power converters. This SC link is the first prototype and will be installed in the HL-LHC String for a full system test of the HL-LHC upgrade in SM18. Video also available.
Date: 08-11-2023
The first CERN-made inner triplet cryo-magnet assembly, a Q2b consisting of an MQXFB magnet and an MCBXF corrector magnet, is ready for powering tests on the magnet test bench F1 in SM18. The cryo assembly is at 1.9 K and the magnet test is prepared, including verification of instrumentation, cabling, quench heaters, FSI position measurement system and the uQDS quench protection and data acquisition system. The quench antenna shaft is inserted in the warm bore in the magnet. The magnet powering will be controlled from the control room, where also the data analysis will take place. The first magnet test on the bench F1 also marks the end of bench commissioning and a transition from upgrade phase to operation phase. When the magnet test is completed, it will be ready for installation in the IT String in SM18
Ongoing HL-LHC activities at SM18
Date: 09-06-2023
In CERN’s SM18 test facility, several activities are ongoing for the preparation of horizontal test benches for the final validation at cold of the novel Nb3Sn quadrupole magnets for the HL-LHC project as well as for the cold powering system (superconducting link or SC link). The pictures show the preparation for closure and short circuit tests of a new shuffling module installed on the horizontal test bench F1 for testing of quadrupole magnets produced at CERN and the Accelerator Upgrade Programme (AUP) collaborations, as well as the preparation for short circuit tests of test bench F2 and the assembly of the Distribution Feedbox (DFHX) that will house the high temperature superconductor current leads and their connection to the SC link. Pictures: 133-1 until 133-12 as well as 133-16 until 133-19 show the new shuffling module of the horizontal test bench F1. 133-12 until 133-15 show the short circuits for the 18kA DC busbars, used to commission the test bench F2 before connection of the cold powering system. 133-20 shows the assembly of the DFHX, being prepared for the insertion of the first set of 4 2kA HTS current leads that will be spliced inside the DFHX to the SC link. Participants in this project are : Oliver Brüning, HL-LHC Project Leader; Markus Zerlauth, HL-LHC Deputy Project Leader ; Stefan Russenschuck, Section Leader in MSC – ‘Test and measurements’ and Frederic Savary, Section Leader in MSC – ‘Cryostats and Machine Integration’.
The D2 Dipole prototype magnet for the HL-LHC project
Date: 06-03-2023
The dipole prototype magnet (also called D2), completed in ASG, Italy, under the contract steered by INFN-Genova, and delivered to CERN for integration in the cold mass (see Related record below). The prototype is currently undergoing a third thermal cycle test in SM18 for High Luminosity LHC project. The new D2 recombination superconducting dipole is a key two-in-one Nb-Ti magnet with a 105 mm bore aperture for the high luminosity LHC accelerator upgrade project (HL-LHC) at CERN expected in operation from 2024. A short model MBRDS1 magnet of 1.6 m magnetic length has been designed by INFN (Genova), built by ASG Superconductors, and cold tested at CERN within a INFN – CERN collaboration framework. This model magnet features novel magnetic and mechanical design elements, which include the cancellation of unwanted cross-talk field multipoles through asymmetric coils, aluminium alloy collar pack preloading rings and a dedicated axial structure design. The future series of four 8.5 m long full-length dipole magnets shall be installed on both sides of the ATLAS and CMS interaction points with an integral field of 35 T.m and 4.5 T bore magnetic field. This paper presents the first power test results including training, protection, and field quality. Short model results will give a relevant feedback for the prototype construction and the series production.
MQXFB02 transport and placement on the test bench in SM18
Date: 30-11-2022
All superconducting magnets are tested in above ground in the Magnet Test Facility to verify if the magnet meets all requirement, before they are transported and installed underground in the LHC.
In this video, the HL-LHC MQXFB02 magnet in its test cryostat is transported from the SMS18 preparation building to the test bench in the neighboring SM18 building. The transport is done using the Rocla, a remote controlled robot vehicle that can carry magnets up to 15 meter long and 30 tons in weight. It is placed with precision on the tes bench, where it will be further connected, cooled down to 1.9 K and tested with high current.
Transport of the HL-LHC D2 prototype magnet
Date: 26-07-2022
The D2 prototype magnet was transported this morning from SMI2 to SMA18, in front of SM18. The horizontal test at CERN is foreseen for the next few weeks.In the context of CERN’s high-luminosity upgrade project (HL-LHC) for the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), a new double aperture beam orbit corrector magnets will be installed near the recombination dipole (D2). These 2.2 m long NbTi dipoles are built with the canted cosine theta (CCT) technique. The two independently powered apertures are oriented such that their field vectors are perpendicular to each other and to the direction of the beams. A full-length double aperture prototype was built and tested at CERN in the SM18 test facility. Here we present the results of powering tests at 1.9 and 4.5 K: training of each aperture, magnetic Field quality and cross-talk effects, quench detection system effectiveness, quench protection performance and quench-back with several energy extraction systems.
Pictures around 11 tesla magnet at SM18
Date: 25-02-2020
The LHC, the coldest place on Earth
Date: 03-10-2017
The large hadron collider (LHC) is the largest cryogenics system in the world and one of the coldest places on earth / / The LHC’s main magnets operate at a temperature of 1.9k (-271.3 c) / / All lhc superconductor magnets have to be tested at cryogenic temperatures / / This is a new cryostat installed at the magnet test facility SM18) allowing the magnets to be tested at both low temperature and high current. / / They are testing the new quadrupole model magnetsdesigned and built at cern for the upgrade of the LHC
EUCAS 2017 Social Event and Exhibition at SM18
Date: 22-09-2017
SM18 New Vertical Cryostat with the new HiLumi Model MQXF5
Date: 07-07-2017
Date: 16-01-2017
The team in charge of the tests of superconducting magnets in SM18 in January 2017 in front of the vertical test stands.
Vertical test cryostat for HL-LHC magnets
Date: 07-10-2016
Installation of the vertical test cryostat for HL-LHC magnets in the ClusterD section of building SM18.
HL LHC insertion into cryostat
Date: 30-09-2016
HL LHC – test station vertical cryostat installation
Date: 27-09-2016
HL LHC – clusterD test station vertical cryostat installation in SM18
Short model HL LHC quadrupole prepared for cold test
Date: 27-09-2016
Short model HL LHC Nb3Sn low-beta quadrupole prepared for cold test in SM18
HL-LHC vertical cryostat during construction
Date: 28-04-2016
7m high “Cluster D” vertical test cryostat during construction at contractor’s premises, Alca Technology Srl, in Schio, Italy. The inner helium vessel with its heat exchanger are visible. To be installed in the D pit in SMA18.
FRESCA2 new cryostat in SM18 hall
Date: 15-03-2016
FRESCA2 new cryostat for superconducting magnets assembled in the SM18 hall
Date: 03-09-2015
Pictures taken at the SM18, 30th September. Deerhoof were performing there for the Ex_noise project. Pictures taken by: Marine Bass
Date: 01-07-2013
Date: 10-04-2013
Date: 22-05-2012
Photo 1 : Connecting hydraulically the Fast Cycled magnet to the cryogenic feed box. Patrck Viret and Guy Deferne technicians of TE-MSC-TF in SM18. – Photo 2 : Installation of the Fast Cycled Superconducting Magnet (FCM) to the new cold feed box in Sm18. – Photo 3 : Connecting the powering cables of the FCM to the feed box. – Photo 5/6 : The connections of the Fast Cycled Magnet. Intermediate pieces. – Photo 7 : Hydraulic connections of the Fast Cycle Magnet cable to allow the cooling of the magnet’s conductor ( Cable in conduit type) with supercritical helium. – Photo 8 : Verification of the connection: design versus reality. Guy Deferne and Frederick Rougemont, technicians of TE-MSC-TE in SM18.