eReport

September 2007

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Closing the Gap: Descent of the Last LHC Magnet

A ceremony was held at CERN to mark the end of a crucial phase of installation of the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), where a large dipole magnet was symbolically lowered into the tunnel. This completes the basic installation of the more than 1,700 magnets that make up the collider, which measures 27 km in circumference and is scheduled to be commissioned at the end of 2007.

The superconducting dipole magnets are the most complex components of the LHC machine. Their superconducting coils allow them to convey extremely high electric currents without any loss of energy. This enables them to produce the high magnetic fields necessary to force the trajectory of protons to follow a 27 km circular path at nearly the speed of light. The collisions between the protons will reach energies of 14 teraelectronvolts (TeV) - 70 times higher than those of the former LEP collider for which the 27 km tunnel was originally built - making the LHC the world’s most powerful accelerator. If the LHC had been made of conventional magnets, it would have needed to be 120 km long to reach the same energies and its electricity consumption would have been phenomenal.

Like the hundreds of magnets that came before it, the final magnet was lowered 50 meters below the Earth's surface through a custom-built shaft with an oval cross-section. It was then conveyed via a transfer tunnel to the LHC tunnel itself, which lies between 50 and 150 meters underground. Once below ground, specially designed transport vehicles delivered the magnet to its final destination at 3 km an hour. The narrowness of the tunnel complicated these handling operations, making it impossible, for example, for two loads to pass each other.

“More than 35 000 tons of material has been safely lowered underground, transported up to 15 km inside the tunnel and positioned with an accuracy of a tenth of a millimeter,” said LHC project leader Lyn Evans. “It is a fantastic achievement.”

Once in position, the magnets are connected to the cryogenic system to form a large string operating in superfluid helium, which will maintain the accelerator at a temperature just two degrees above absolute zero (-271°C). The cryogenic capabilities of the superconducting magnets were tested at CERN between 2004 and early this year, with the last dipole magnet passing its cryogenics testing on March 1st.

“Installation of these large components in the LHC tunnel has been successfully achieved on schedule, thanks to the competence and motivation of the large team in charge, working day and mostly night and weekends,” said CERN director general Robert Aymar. “They deserve our sincere congratulations.”

The manufacture of these superconducting magnets was a huge technical and industrial challenge both for CERN and for European industry. Over 1,000 tons of niobium-titanium superconducting cable had to be produced. Around a hundred companies in Europe manufactured the magnet components and three companies, Babcock Noell Nuclear in Germany, Alstom in France, and Ansaldo in Italy, were responsible for their assembly. At the height of production, the three industrial sites were able to manufacture between nine and 10 magnets a week.

Bodine Electric’s New High-Performance Gearmotor Delivers Twice the Torque of Similar Motor/Gearhead Combinations

Bodine Electric Company has developed an extra-rugged line of variable speed AC inverter-duty and permanent magnet DC gearmotors, the type CG gearmotor.

While some competitors build gearheads and motors of this frame-size as separate components, the CG gearhead was developed specifically for the Bodine’s most powerful electric motors, the 48R-AC inverter-duty, and 42A permanent magnet DC motors. This integral gearmotor design allows the CG to deliver up to 1,000 lb-in. of torque, which is nearly twice the torque of any previous Bodine product. Almost every component of the CG gearmotor was designed for higher than usual performance. The motor and gearhead are assembled as an integral unit, so the possibility of leaks at the motor-gearhead seal, or misalignment between motor and gearhead is eliminated. The new CG gearhead features a 3-stage, selectively hardened gearing cluster, permanently lubricated with a special, high-performance lubricant. Its solid aluminum-cast body and extra heavy-duty bearings and seals ensure that it will perform flawlessly, even in the toughest applications. Because the gearhead is unvented, the gearmotors can be mounted in virtually any position by means of its extra-wide face-mounting flange. The driveshaft, featuring a 1.0 inch diameter, is almost twice as large as those typically found in comparable products, it allows the CG gearmotors to deliver tremendous output torque to the load.

These rugged gearmotors are specifically designed for applications such as platform lifts, heavy-duty plant automation equipment, and other equipment where long life and high load capacity are critical.

According to Edmund Glueck, Manager of Product Development, this new gearmotor fills out the Bodine product line. “It’s the largest gearmotor Bodine has designed to date,” he said. “It was designed to deliver Bodine reliability to the most demanding applications.”

austriamicrosystems Launches High Current Low Voltage 1mhz Boost Converter While Delivering 96 Percent Efficiency

Another feature of this device is the automatic powersave function, which improves efficiency at light loads. This reduces the power consumption of the AS1326 and increases battery life. During forced PWM mode, the AS1326 maintains fixed frequency operation and is therefore suitable for applications with the need for predictable and easily filtered output noise like mobile communications.

The high switching frequency and high efficiency combined with the small package size of 3 by 3 by 0.8 mm of a 10-pin TDFN makes the AS1326 well suited for a variety of compact portable applications such as GPS receivers, mobile phones, digital still cameras, blood pressure meters and all other handheld devices where extended battery operation combined with high currents are critical. The AS1326 covers the industrial temperature range of -40°C to 85°C.

Latest Release Adds New Features for Power Rail Extraction in Low-Voltage/High-Current PCB and Package Designs

Ansoft Corp. released SIwave v3.5, a full-wave electromagnetic field simulator optimized for signal-integrity, power-integrity and electromagnetic interference (EMI) analysis of high-speed printed circuit boards (PCBs) and complex integrated circuit (IC) packages.

The new release features a fast and efficient finite-element-based DC solver optimized for extraction of power rail geometry in complex low-voltage/high-current PCB and package designs. Engineers can view voltage and current distributions in all relevant geometry including vias and bond wires. In addition, users have access to voltage drop and current flow information through all layout elements (vias, bond wires, sources, resistors, inductors, etc.) in tabular format, allowing engineers to quickly identify design rule violations. Siwave v3.5, leveraging Ansoft's adaptive mesh refinement technology, allows users to find layout problems quickly and warns of possible bond wire and via electromigration damage prior to the fabrication of a prototype.

"SIwave is a key technology for enabling the new era of mixed-signal electronics design driven by form-factor, functionality and integration," said Dr. Zoltan Cendes, chairman and chief technology officer, Ansoft. "Extreme integration in wireless handheld devices, for example, creates new challenges for RF performance, system signal integrity, system-level EMI, low power and communications reliability. SIwave, combined with HFSS, Nexxim and DesignerSI, form a system design platform capable of addressing these challenges."

SIwave accurately simulates the electromagnetic behavior of complex PCBs and IC packages, including multiple, arbitrarily shaped power and ground layers and any number of vias and signal traces. The resulting full-wave S,Y or Z-parameters or GHz-bandwidth circuit model is used in concert with time- and frequency-domain analyses within Nexxim and DesignerSI or third-party SPICE-compatible circuit tools. Engineers use SIwave to extract a model for the complex interactions among traces on the board, the coupled impedances within the IC package and between package pins and the PCB. That model can then be used in a top-level circuit simulation to characterize the nonlinear behavior of an IC, including the package and board parasitics. This chip-package-board co- simulation is critical for reliable integrated electronics system performance.

SIwave v3.5 is available on the following operating systems: Microsoft Windows XP Professional; Windows XP Professional x64 Edition; Windows Server 2003 Standard Edition; Windows Server 2003

Standard x64 Edition; and Red Hat Enterprise Linux 3 and 4. For pricing information, contact your nearest Ansoft sales office.

2008 Magnetics Conference Call for Presentations Deadline: November 16, 2007 Want to share your company's expertise at the 2008 Magnetics Conference?

Submit your abstract for consideration in the program byFriday November 16, 2007. We are looking for presentations focused on the latest advancements in magnetic applications, technology and materials.

Full-conference registration fees will be waived for all confirmed speakers.  

SUBMISSIONS SOUGHT FOR:

Subject areas to include, but not limited to: • Testing & Instrumentation • Magnetic Materials • Power Electronics • EMI / EMC / Shielding • Magnetic Assembly & Mfg • Brakes • Motors • Data Storage • Nano Magnetics • Ferrites • Sensors & Motion Control • Metrology • Electro-Magnetic Software • Magnetic Components • Magnetic Equipment • Specialized Coatings & Adhesives • Biomagnetics • Superconducting Magnets • Cryogenics

Other Areas of Coverage to Include:

• Materials Pricing & Economic Development
• New Frontiers in Magnetics Research & Development
• Emerging Technologies that utilize Magnetics

Visit the conference web site at http://www.magneticsmagazine.com/mag_conf08_callforpres.htm for abstract submission requirements and guidelines.

Contact Heather Krier at heatherk@infowebcom.com or 720.528.3770 x129 for more information.

Please send new information or content to be posted in the Knowledge Center to Heather Krier at heatherk@infowebcom.com.

Dmitri Litvinov, associate professor of electrical and computer engineering and of chemical and biomolecular engineering in the Cullen College of Engineering at UH, uses an ultra-high vacuum thin film synthesis system in his research on magnetic cellular networks that could yield such benefits as increased computing power that rivals what is possible with semiconductor integrated circuits. Photo by: Mark Lacy

Just as compact discs all but wiped out vinyl records, semiconductors could be on their way out, too.

A University of Houston professor has developed a similar ‘disruptive technology,’ using magnetic cellular networks, that could yield such benefits as increased computing power that rivals what is possible with semiconductor integrated circuits.

Integrated circuits, which are a microscopic array of electronic circuits and components that have been implanted on the surface of a single chip of semiconducting material, have become the principal components of almost all electronic devices. Compared to the vacuum tubes and transistors that preceded them, integrated circuits have provided a low-cost, highly reliable way for computers to respond to a wider range of input and produce a wider range of output.

Dmitri Litvinov, associate professor of electrical and computer engineering and of chemical and biomolecular engineering in the Cullen College of Engineering at UH, is working with specially arranged assemblies of nanomagnets, or magnetic cellular networks, to replace conventional circuitry and significantly improve computing operations. His research involves a system of interacting magnetic nanocells that could combine logic, random access memory and data storage in a single nanomagnetic computing system.

Working from logic gates, which are at the heart of a computer’s ability to add, subtract, multiply and divide, Litvinov wants to demonstrate that the magnetization of adjacent magnets is possible and can be used to perform specific logic and computing operations, reversing the repulsive and attractive poles of magnets.

“The significance is potentially ultra-high density of magnetic computing components for significantly higher computing power beyond what is expected to be achievable with semiconductor integrated circuits,” said Litvinov, who is also the director of the Center for Nanomagnetic Systems at UH. “Additional benefits include potential integration with magnetic random access memory that would result in all-magnetic computing, as well as extreme robustness, or resilience, against radiation that could be critical for space missions or military applications.”

Funded by a $360,000 grant from the National Science Foundation’s Grant Opportunities for Academic Liaison with Industry (GOALI) initiative, Litvinov, the principal investigator on this project, is working with co-PI Sakhrat Khizroev of the University of California-Riverside. The two have successfully implemented a number of nanomagnetic concepts and rapid prototyping approaches in commercial magnetic data storage systems, many of which are directly applicable to this project. Also involved in this research is co-PI Song Xue of Seagate Technology, a major American manufacturer of hard drives and the largest magnetic information technology company in the world. Xue is strategically positioned to deliver key technology components, such as access to advanced device fabrication, to facilitate this research and bring industrial insight to the project.

GOALI is a program that connects universities and industry for mutual benefit, reflecting the NSF’s objective to improve the nation’s capacity for intellectual and economic growth. Launched in 1993 and expanded in 1996 to include all NSF directorates, GOALI aims to improve productivity and enhance competitiveness. By the NSF serving as a catalyst for industry-university partnerships through this type of grant, it helps bring together intellectual capital and emerging technologies to improve quality of life, making funds available to support an eclectic mix of academic and commercial linkages.

“The long-term potential of developing integrated magnetic computing systems such as ours could foster a significant advance in information processing that rivals not just superconductors, but also the integrated circuit revolution of the past half century,” Litvinov said. “It’s an ideal fit with the NSF’s GOALI initiative, since this program only funds projects with demonstrated interest from industry and seeks out projects such as ours with a potentially profound impact on the world’s economic, political and social systems.”

Advanced Magnetics, Inc. has changed its company name to AMAG Pharmaceuticals, Inc. The Company’s trading symbol will remain unchanged on the NASDAQ Global Market.

“Our new name recognizes the rich history of the company while capturing the exciting opportunities that lie ahead of us,” said Brian J.G. Pereira, MD, president and CEO of AMAG Pharmaceuticals, Inc. “The company has undergone significant evolution, and our new name reflects these developments while recognizing our long-standing business presence. These developments include expanding our management team, continuing to advance ferumoxytol toward market approval and transitioning to a commercial biopharmaceutical company.”

Along with the name change, the Company adopted a new corporate logo, visual identity, and a new web site that can be found at www.amagpharma.com. The changes are effective immediately, and all future business activity will be undertaken with the new name.

The transaction will be structured as a cash tender offer for all the outstanding shares of Komag common stock, followed by a merger of a wholly-owned subsidiary of WD into Komag in which the remaining shareholders of Komag will receive $32.25 in cash. The transaction has been unanimously approved by the board of directors of each company and is subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals and is expected to close in the third calendar quarter of 2007.

WD will fund the transaction, including the expected retirement of Komag’s convertible notes due 2014, through a combination of the companies’ cash and proceeds from a senior secured term loan of up to $1.25 billion.

“This acquisition is a significant step in the evolution and differentiation of WD as a leader in the worldwide hard drive industry,” said John Coyne, WD president and chief executive officer. “Following the successful integration of the Read-Rite head assets since 2003, we are very excited by the opportunity to drive incremental profitability and efficiencies in the WD business model through the full integration of Komag’s media operation. This acquisition will enable WD to optimize synergies through the integration of heads and media, secure our long-term supply of media and sharpen our ability to deliver high quality, highly reliable and cost-effective products to our customers. Together, we have the right team to deliver on WD’s strategy to achieve profitable growth.”

Tim Harris, Komag’s chief executive officer said, “We believe WD is the best partner for Komag and are very excited by the benefits this transaction delivers to both our shareholders and employees. In particular, we believe the transaction with WD provides our shareholders with an attractive price as well as value certainty. The acquisition of Komag by WD is the natural next step in the customer-supplier relationship between the two companies. WD is closely embedded as a customer in Komag’s processes and is uniquely positioned to benefit from the Komag media capabilities.”

TÜVRheinland, a company in independent testing and certification services, has been recognized by the European Commission as a Conformity Assessment Body (CAB) for the new Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) Directive 2004/108/EC. The company was given the designation under the US – EU Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) through the National Institute of Standards and Technology.

CABs review products’ technical documentation to assure compliance to the EMC Directive and then report its findings to the EC’s Notified Body. To become a CAB, TÜVRheinland demonstrated a required level of competence, independence, impartiality and integrity, as outlined in Section VI of the EMC Directive.

The EMC Directive 2004/108/EC oversees the EMC compatibility of a wide range of products including electrical and electronic appliances, systems and installations. Effective as of July 20, the new version replaced the previous Directive 89/336/EEC. Its purpose is to guarantee the free movement of apparatus and create an acceptable electromagnetic environment in the European Community.

DISKCON USA 2007
September 17-20 in Santa Clara, CA, reveals new and emerging storage technologies, addresses compelling issues facing the industry and brings together the most influential storage companies under one roof.  This year’s theme, “Storage Goes Main Street -- Drive On!” marks a new strategic direction for the event, embracing both Hard Disk Drive and Solid State technologies. Attend the New Flash Basics Class to gain a clear understanding of the concepts, possibilities, and drawbacks of flash storage.  See Seagate’s HDD-enabled car and Fujitsu’s biometric identification system at Applications Avenue.  Special Keynote Speakers include Brian Dexheimer, Chief Sales & Marketing Officer at Seagate AND Tom Georgens, Executive Vice President, Product Operations of Network Appliance.  Visit www.idema.org for more information.

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