Verification Testing of MQXFA Nb3Sn Wires Procured Under LARP

The high-luminosity Large Hadron Collider (LHC) Accelerator Upgrade Project (AUP) in the U.S. will construct quadrupole magnets to be delivered to CERN. An initial 3 tons, over 600 km total length, of conductor was procured under the LHC Accelerator R&D Program (LARP) for this project. Programs for quality control at the supplier and quality verification at the laboratories were solidified into components of the overall quality plan for strand procurement under AUP. Measurements of the critical current (Ic) and residual resistance ratio (RRR), and related probes and techniques, are central to the quality plan. Described below is the verification testing that has taken place at the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory (NHMFL). Testing challenges are presented by the high sensitivity of these wires. In addition, new RRR test software was developed to accommodate challenges presented by meeting international standards with existing configurations of test strands.