A 500 MHz/200 mm RT bore solid neon cooled Nb₃Sn MRI magnet - A status report

We report here on the status of our program aimed to build and operate a dry MRI magnet. The system incorporates a new design/operational concept that we believe it will be eventually adopted by manufacturers of the next generation of superconducting magnets. System features include: a) liquid free; b) if required by the user, cryocooler microphonics free over a period of time; c) ability to maintain a constant operating field over a specified period of time, even in the event of a power outage or during cryocooler maintenance. The basis of this new design/operation concept, among other features, is the presence of solid cryogen, solid neon for this system, in the cold body that also contains the magnet to enhance significantly the cold body's heat capacity. Details of the system design - magnetic and cryogenics are presented in this paper.