Research and technology at the Dresden High Magnetic Field Laboratory (HLD)

The Dresden High Magnetic Field Laboratory (Hochfeld-Magnetlabor Dresden, HLD) is a user facility for experiments at extreme sample conditions and an institute of the HZDR as well. The HLD provides access to magnets and measurement equipment that allows for experiments up to the feasibility limits of the magnetic-field scale. In particular, research on quantum condensed matter with novel electronic or magnetic properties is the central research area at HLD. As a central task, the HLD develops and operates world-class pulsed high-field magnets to make them available for excellent research by external and in-house users. It is the only installation in Germany and one of the four large user facilities in Europe which operate high-field magnets in combination with advanced measurement techniques; the other partner facilities are located in Grenoble, Nijmegen and Toulouse. The close cooperation between these high-field laboratories has been formalized by the foundation of the European Magnetic Field Laboratory (EMFL). Via a peer-reviewed proposal system, centrally managed by EMFL, the HLD provides leading-edge and in part unique experimental capabilities allowing for high-resolution measurement techniques for materials research in state-of-the-art pulsed magnets reaching top-level field strengths. All these experimental techniques are available over a broad temperature range too, most even down to millikelvin temperatures. The combination of infrared radiation produced by free-electron lasers of the neighboring superconducting electron accelerator ELBE with pulsed-field magnets is world unique. At HLD, a technology-development program for nondestructive pulsed magnets and pulsed power supplies is being carried out allowing to provide the highest possible fields for internal and external users. Various types of pulsed magnets have been designed and are in operation with recently realized dual-coil systems reaching magnetic fields of 85 and 95 T, available for users. Furthermore, a development program for pulsed-power supplies providing electrical currents of several 100 kA as well as electrical power of several GW is in work. These technological activities which make also use of modern simulation methods are under way for realizing a dedicated power supply at the European XFEL (HIBEF project) and for industrial applications, e.g. for electromagnetic pulse forming, joining, and welding as well as for medical engineering and hydrogen liquefaction. In cooperation with industrial and EMFL partners, the HLD will develop a new generation of all-superconducting high-field coils.