General information
Organisation
The French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission (CEA) is a key player in research, development and innovation in four main areas :
• defence and security,
• nuclear energy (fission and fusion),
• technological research for industry,
• fundamental research in the physical sciences and life sciences.
Drawing on its widely acknowledged expertise, and thanks to its 16000 technicians, engineers, researchers and staff, the CEA actively participates in collaborative projects with a large number of academic and industrial partners.
The CEA is established in ten centers spread throughout France
Reference
SL-DRF-25-0530
Direction
DRF
Thesis topic details
Category
Engineering science
Thesis topics
Quantification and Optimization of the Mechanical State of Nb3Sn Superconductors during the Heat Treatment
Contract
Thèse
Job description
In agreement with the CERN’s advertised will for the implementation of a super-collider, FCC type, high field superconducting electromagnets, based on Nb3Sn, are being developed. In the framework of the HFM (High Field Magnets) European collaboration, the LEAS at CEA Paris-Saclay is designing, manufacturing, and testing superconducting magnet demonstrators generating up to 16 T. Nb3Sn conductors require a heat treatment at 650 °C. During this heat treatment, several physico-chemical phenomena lead to the formation of the Nb3Sn superconducting phase. These phenomena induce a mechanical state impacting the superconducting properties of the material. A study of the different phenomena inducing dimensional changes inside the conductors would allow estimating the stresses inside the Nb3Sn superconducting phase following the heat treatment. The goal of this thesis is to study, using modeling and experiments, the thermomechanical state of the conductors during the heat treatment in order to estimate the internal stresses and their impact on the superconducting performances. The results will allow the improvement of the Nb3Sn superconducting properties in view of the production of high field magnets for future accelerators.
University / doctoral school
Sciences Mécaniques et Energétiques, Matériaux et Géosciences (SMEMaG)
Paris-Saclay
Thesis topic location
Site
Saclay
Requester
Position start date
01/10/2025
Person to be contacted by the applicant
Rochepault Etienne
etienne.rochepault@cea.fr
CEA
DRF/IRFU/DACM/LEAS
Bat. 123 Pce 318
F-91191 Gif-Sur-Yvette Cedex
01 69 08 37 75
Tutor / Responsible thesis director
LAVERNHE Karine
Karine.lavernhe@ens-paris-saclay.fr
ENS Paris-Saclay
LMPS (Laboratoire de Mécanique Paris-Saclay)
L.M.P.S. ENS Paris Saclay
4 avenue des Sciences
91190 GIF SUR YVETTE
01 81 87 51 14
En savoir plus
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Etienne-Rochepault
https://irfu.cea.fr/dacm/index.php
https://home.cern/science/accelerators/future-circular-collider