On July 23, 2026, Joanna Kuczynska successfully defended her PhD thesis entitled “Magneto-Thermal Stability of Nb3Sn Superconducting Wires: A Systematic Study of Wire Design and Temperature Effects by Laser-Induced Quench.” Her doctoral research was carried out under the joint supervision of Prof. Carmine Senatore and Dr. Simon Hopkins (CERN). The thesis committee included Dr. Pierre Bauer (ITER Organization, France) and Prof. Boris Korzh (University of Geneva).
Joanna’s research addresses one of the key technological challenges associated with the next generation of particle accelerators. The proposed Future Circular Collider (FCC-hh) will require superconducting magnets capable of generating magnetic fields well beyond those currently achieved in the Large Hadron Collider. Among the available superconducting technologies, Nb3Sn is considered the most mature candidate for these demanding high-field applications. However, ensuring the stability and reliable operation of Nb3Sn magnets remains a major scientific and engineering challenge.
During her PhD, Joanna exploited a unique experimental platform based on laser-induced quench measurements to investigate the stability of superconducting wires under highly controlled conditions. By using nanosecond laser pulses to generate localized thermal disturbances, she was able to systematically study the response of advanced Nb3Sn conductors under conditions relevant to future accelerator magnets.
Through an extensive experimental campaign, Joanna established a quantitative framework linking conductor design, operating conditions, and magneto-thermal stability. Her work provides valuable insights on the thermophysical properties of superconducting wires used in major accelerator magnet programs, including the High-Luminosity LHC (HL-LHC) and future high-field demonstrator magnets developed for the FCC-hh. The results of this research contribute directly to the development of the superconducting technologies required for the next generation of particle accelerators and improve our understanding of the complex mechanisms governing quench initiation in high-performance superconductors.
We warmly congratulate Dr. Kuczynska on this achievement and wish her every success in her future endeavors.