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Installing the ATLAS calorimeter
The eight toroid magnets can be seen surrounding the calorimeter that is later moved into the middle of the detector. This calorimeter will measure the energies of particles produced when protons collide in the centre of the detector. (Image: CERN)

Magnet System

  1. Discover
  2. Detector
  3. Magnet System
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Bends particles around the various layers of detector systems

By bending the trajectories of charged particles, ATLAS can measure their momentum and charge. This is done using two different types of superconducting magnet systems – solenoidal and toroidal. These impressive systems are cooled to about 4.5 K (–268°C) in order to provide the necessary strong magnetic fields.

The main sections of the magnet system are: Central Solenoid Magnet, Barrel Toroid and End-cap Toroids.

Central Solenoid Magnet

The ATLAS solenoid surrounds the inner detector at the core of the experiment. This powerful magnet is 5.8 m long, 2.56 m in diameter and weighs over 5 tonnes. It provides a 2 Tesla magnetic field in just 4.5 cm thickness. This is achieved by embedding over 9 km of niobium-titanium superconductor wires into strengthened, pure aluminum strips, thus minimising possible interactions between the magnet and the particles being studied.

  • Bends charged particles for momentum measurement
  • 5.8 m long, 2.56 m outer diameter, 4.5 cm thick
  • 5 tonne weight
  • 2 tesla (T) magnetic field with a stored energy of 38 megajoules (MJ)
  • 9 km of superconducting wire
  • Nominal current: 7.73 kiloampere (kA)
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Toroid Magnet

The ATLAS toroids use a series of eight coils to provide a magnetic field of up to 3.5 Tesla, used to measure the momentum of muons. There are three toroid magnets in ATLAS: two at the ends of the experiment, and one massive toroid surrounding the centre of the experiment.

At 25.3 m in length, the central toroid is the largest toroidal magnet ever constructed. It is unique in particle physics and an iconic element of ATLAS. It uses over 56 km of superconducting wire and weighs about 830 tonnes. The end-cap toroids extend the magnetic field to particles leaving the detector close to the beam pipe. Each end-cap is 10.7 m in diameter and weighs 240 tonnes

Barrel Toroid

Barrel Toroid

  • 25.3 m length
  • 20.1 m outer diameter
  • 8 separate coils
  • 1.08 GJ stored energy
  • 370 tonnes cold mass
  • 830 tonnes weight
  • 4 T magnetic field on superconductor
  • 56 km Al/NbTi/Cu conductor
  • 20.5 kA nominal current
  • 4.7 K working point temperature
  • 100 km superconducting wire

End-cap Toroid

End-cap Toroid

  • 5.0 m axial length
  • 10.7 m outer diameter
  • 8 coils in a common cryostat in each
  • 0.25 GJ stored energy in each
  • 160 tonnes cold mass each
  • 240 tonnes weight each
  • 4 T magnetic field on superconductor
  • 13 km Al/NbTi/Cu conductor each
  • 20.5 kA nominal current
  • 4.7 K working point temperature

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Final ATLAS Toroid Magnet lowered into experimental cavern
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Installation of the eighth and final coil of the ATLAS barrel toroid magnet
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All of the eight huge toroid magnets installed and fixed in place
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The eight coils of the magnet system and their mechanical support structure
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The ATLAS solenoid approaches its final position
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Descent of the eighth and final coil of the ATLAS barrel toroid into the experimental cavern
After many technical trials and tribulations and an 80-m descent, the vast end-cap of the ATLAS toroid magnet was installed in the experimental cavern. (Video: CERN)

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