Optimzing the conductor dimensions for a 10-13 T superconducting dipole magnet

A method to obtain systematic solutions for the conductor dimensions and their layout is described. From these solutions a selection can be made based on a number of practical requirements. The inclusion of a measured Jmax(B) relation of the superconductor in order to make the design practical has a large effect on the geometry. A dipole magnet with cables of equal width is not necessarily the best solution; it is often better to have a broader inner-layer cable. The volume of superconductor appeared to vary only within a few percent in the systematic solutions and is therefore not a relevant criterion. In the case of a 13-T dipole magnet and using the Jmax(B) relation described, more than two layers of conductors must be used in order to keep the design within practical limits. It appears to be difficult to obtain a convenient solution for a 13-T magnet, although the number of geometrical variants is very high