Design and construction of a one-metre model of the 70 mm aperture quadrupole for the LHC low-β insertions

In order to achieve high field quality and low current rating of the 250 T/m quadrupoles for the LHC low-β insertions, a design based on a graded four-layer coil with an aperture of 70 mm, wound from NbTi conductor cooled at 1.8 K, has been proposed. Its mechanical structure is based on the collar-spacer concept, where a thin collar serves for coil assembly only. The iron yoke has both important magnetic and structural functions, since the magnetic forces are taken by the rigidity of the iron lamination pack. The coil and cable parameters are derived for this particular structure, and the results of the structural analysis of the magnet are presented. A one-metre model of the quadrupole is presently under construction; its features are described and some initial cable tests reported