Hēki - A Superconducting Magnet with Timepix3 detectors on the International Space Station
Randy Pollock, Betina Pavri
Paihau - Robinson Research Institute, Te Herenga Waka - Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand
Abstract: In September 2025, the Hēki technology demonstration experiment was launched to the International Space Station. Its primary purpose was to demonstrate that High Temperature Superconducting (HTS) magnets could be operated within the limitations of a space mission. Over the course of six months, the system maintained the largest artificial magnetic field ever generated in space while only consuming 50-60 W of power.
The team also saw an opportunity to test the effectiveness of high magnetic fields as a potential radiation shield. During the magnet testing, the field would be repeatedly cycled between a high field and zero field. By including two HardPix sensors from IEAP CTU in Hēki's design, it was possible to measure the radiation environment in both near the magnet and further away, allowing our team to measure how the magnetic field was interacting with the background radiation.
This talk will discuss the motivation behind Hēki, the design and testing of the system, the collaboration with CTU on the HardPix units, the mission operations, preliminary results from the data collected in space, and next steps for the research.
Seminar takes place on Tuesday, May 12th 2026 at 1:00 PM
in the IEAP conference center, Praha 1, Husova 240/5.
| Ing. Bartoloměj Biskup, Ph.D. seminar chair |
doc. Ing. Ivan Štekl, CSc. director of IEAP |
doc. Dr. André Sopczak IEEE CS - NPSS chair |
NUCLEAR & PLASMA SCIENCES SOCIETY CHAPTER
IEEE Czechoslovakia section
https://www.ieee.cz/main/section/nps/