Stability of Al-stabilised conductors for high energy physics application

The stability of superconducting magnets wound with Al-stabilized conductors is studied using Finite Element code for thermal transient analysis. The computations show that standard concepts, developed for steady state analysis, as Minimum Quench Energy and Minimum Propagating Zone, have still a meaning in the transient analysis. An important role is played by the finite magnetic diffusivity, which strongly reduces the stability margin. The methods used to carry out the analysis are described and the stability margin of some existing thin wall solenoids and magnets under design is calculated.