Accelerator magnet technologies at the Paul Scherrer Institute: Recent development and perspectives

In recent years, the magnet section at the Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI) has considerably strengthened its expertise in the design, fabrication, and qualification of advanced magnet technologies for particle accelerators. This progress, driven by flagship initiatives such as the Swiss Light Source upgrade (SLS 2.0) and the Swiss Accelerator Research and Technology (CHART) program, has led to the establishment of key competencies in magnet design, dedicated infrastructure, and high-precision magnetic qualification. A prominent example is the SLS 2.0 upgrade, which implements a unique combination of magnet technologies: NdFeB-based permanent magnets, compact combined-function copper electromagnets, and, in a later phase, NbTi superconducting dipoles with a longitudinal field gradient. All magnets are designed, assembled, and magnetically qualified in-house to meet the stringent field-quality and alignment requirements of the new storage ring. In parallel, low-temperature (Nb-Ti, Nb 3 -Sn) and high-temperature (REBCO) superconducting technologies are being developed and tested in prototype magnets, including those for the PSI Positron Production experiment and for future collider projects such as FCC-ee and FCC-hh, within the framework of CHART. This paper presents an overview of PSI’s recent advancements in magnet technology and discusses prospects. These developments serve both PSI’s internal research programs and collaborative projects with European and international partners, paving the way for a new generation of efficient and environmentally responsible accelerator magnets.