CERN is maneuvering 8.5-tonne dipoles through a narrow passage as part of an upgrade to its Isotope Separator On-Line (ISOLDE) facility. The project will double the proton beam energy delivered to ISOLDE, increasing the production of rare isotopes.
Originally designed for 1 GeV protons, the transfer line has operated at 1.4 GeV since the 2000s and is now being reconfigured to handle 2 GeV beams. “Thanks to extensive preparation, ten magnets – ranging from smaller units to 8.5-tonne dipoles – were already successfully extracted,” CERN reports, despite residual radiation from over three decades of operation complicating the removal process.
ISOLDE Upgrade: Reconfiguring Beamlines for 2 GeV Protons
The removal of shielding and services accumulated over thirty years of operation complicated the extraction of magnets from the ISOLDE target area, demanding careful planning to manage residual dose rates. Movable shielding was essential during the process, ensuring worker safety in the constrained space around the target. This meticulous work will significantly increase the production of rare isotopes, a key goal of the HiLumi LHC upgrade project. The current reconfiguration aims to deliver beams with 2 GeV of energy, effectively doubling the original design parameter and promising substantially higher yields of exotic isotopes.
This jump in energy requires not only the reuse of existing magnets but also the installation of new units capable of handling the increased demands. Transporting the 8.5-tonne dipoles presented a unique logistical challenge, requiring the use of electrically powered rollers to maneuver the massive components through an extremely narrow passage. The successful extraction of these magnets demonstrates the precision and thoroughness of the preparation undertaken by the CERN team.
“All about the road to HiLumi,” notes CERN, framing this upgrade as a critical step toward the High-Luminosity Large Hadron Collider, a project that will significantly increase the rate of particle collisions and expand the frontiers of physics. CERN’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of particle physics is further evidenced by its approval on 2025-11-15 of a strategy to integrate artificial intelligence across all research activities.
Magnet Extraction Challenges in Decades-Old ISOLDE Target Area
This logistical feat required meticulous planning to navigate the limited space created by accumulated shielding, services, and handling systems built up over decades. The successful removal of these magnets demonstrates a high degree of preparation and precision, a skill set honed through decades of experience building superconducting magnets. CERN’s expertise in superconducting magnet technology extends beyond particle accelerators, with applications now reaching into quantum computing. This cross-pollination of technologies, evidenced by ten patent families and five recent publications, underscores CERN’s commitment to innovation beyond its core mission.
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