Development of Lithium Lenses at CERN

For the upgrading of the antiproton source as part of the ACOL project, strong lithium lenses with gradients of 500-1000 T/m are required. The characteristics of these lenses, like the current and field distributions and the temperatures and forces have been computed. Based on these studies, a novel lens design has been developed, including a lithium container of very high pressure resistance. For the proper filling of the lens a special circuit has been built to cast the liquid lithium under vacuum and high pressure into the container. The design and the assembly of a lens with a diameter of 2cm are described. Life tests of the lens in the laboratory have started. Presently, more than 104 current pulses have been accumulated at the required repetition rate of 2.4 s and peak currents of 320 kA without causing any failure of the lens.