Efficient continuous-duty Bitter-type electromagnets for cold atom experiments

Area of Science:

• Experimental Physics
• Applied Electromagnetism

Background:

• Cold atom experiments require high magnetic fields.
• Existing electromagnets face challenges with continuous operation and heat dissipation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design, construct, and characterize novel Bitter-type electromagnets.
• To achieve efficient heat removal for high magnetic field generation under continuous operation.

Main Methods:

• Constructed electromagnets using stacked copper arcs and polyester spacers.
• Incorporated parallel rectangular water cooling channels for efficient heat extraction.
• Ensured a high copper fraction for increased magnetic field generation per dissipated energy.

Main Results:

• Generated a peak magnetic field of 770 G at 14 mm with 400 A current and 1.6 kW power dissipation.
• Achieved efficient cooling, with coil temperature increasing only 7 °C at 3.8 l/min water flow.
• Demonstrated a scalable design with a watertight seal achieved through compression without epoxy.

Conclusions:

• The developed Bitter-type electromagnets are suitable for continuous operation in cold atom experiments.
• The design offers efficient heat removal and high magnetic field generation capabilities.
• The scalable and robust construction facilitates practical implementation in research settings.