First results of the TESPE-S magnet system safety experiments

The six-coil superconducting toroidal magnet system TESPE-S is being used to provide experimental support for modelling of the behaviour of such magnet systems, under fault conditions. The first part of the experimental program consists of non-destructive measurements, in order to characterise the individual elements which will later make up the destructive experiments. Results reported include vibration measurements, mechanical and electrical behaviour with one coil shorted, magnet energy transfer under both slow and rapid current changes and quenching of a coil with no liquid helium present, the last serving as the first of a series of loss-of-cooling experiments. (author)