Status on the Development of the NbSn 12 T Falcon Dipole for the FCC-hh

The quest for advancing science and technology continues with the Future Circular Collider (FCC), which requires 16 T bending dipoles to be installed along its 100 km tunnel to achieve a center-of-mass energy of 100 TeV, in its hadron-hadron version. The promising Nb_3Sn technology for superconducting magnets presents a potential solution for large-scale production. In line with this, the European strategy for particle physics has urged for increased efforts in High Field Magnet R&D, specifically in constructing demonstrators for Nb3Sn technology. To address this call, the Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare (INFN) and CERN entered into an agreement to build a 1.5 m long cos-theta dipole in Nb_3Sn, called Falcon Dipole (The Future Accelerator post-LHC Cos-theta Optimized Nb_3Sn Dipole). The project aims to consolidate the fabrication process for Nb_3Sn superconducting dipoles in the 12-14 T range, engaging industry partners in the initial stages of the R&D phase. This article provides a recall of the magnet design features and highlights the progress made in the development activities. Critical processes like the reaction treatment and the impregnation are discussed, with an emphasis on the test outcomes and the challenges faced. By taking these into account, plans for the production of the coils for the final configuration can be effectively formulated.