Cryogenics for CERN Experiments. Past, Present and Future

Publisher Summary Cryogenics for CERN accelerators, limited to some application in the past, has expanded considerably following the recent development of superconducting (s.c.) accelerating cavities and high field bending magnets. Use of cryogenics at CERN has been originated by bubble chambers and the associated s.c. solenoids. Complex cryoplants are installed to provide cooling at LH2 and LHe temperatures. Continuity in He cryogenics for experiments is provided by spectrometer magnets for fixed target physics of the SPS accelerator. More recently, large "particle-transparent" s.c. solenoids for collider experiments (LEP) have been built demanding new cryoplants. The LHC experiments continue the tradition with s.c. dipoles, solenoids and toroids of unusual size. Cryogenics for experiments using noble liquids follow the same trend since the development of the first shower LAr detectors. A LKr calorimeter may be operated in 1996 and the ATLAS experiment foresees a set of three huge LAr calorimeters to be installed underground.