HTS Current Leads for the LHC Magnet Powering System

Among the different applications of the emerging High Temperature Superconducting (HTS) technology, current leads represent a key development component. In this field the state of maturity of the conductor is such as to satisfy both a wide range of design requirements and those of economic viability. The LHC superconducting magnets will be powered through HTS current leads transferring in total more than 3 MA of current. The R&D program undertaken at CERN and in industry to experimentally validate different design assumptions has led to major progress towards design choices for the different HTS leads of the LHC magnet system. Test results, merits of design variants and major milestones for the LHC leads manufacture will be reported.