Anodized Aluminum strip excitation coils for the prototype LEP quadrupole and sextupole magnets

Anodized aluminium strip can be an attractive alternative to the water-cooled conductor usually considered for magnet excitation coils. Coils wound with anodized strip are simple to manufacture and show a high filling factor together with good heat transfer properties. The design of coils ordered by CERN from industry to equip prototype quadrupole and sextupole magnets for the LEP machine is presented. A comparison with hollow conductor coils is given. The experience gained in the manufacture of these prototype coils is reported together with the results from the measurements of dielectric strength and thermal conductivity of commercially available strip conductors. Tests are being carried out to check the behaviour of the coils under current and temperature cycling.