Abstract: Operational characteristics of an high temperature superconducting (“HTS”) film comprised of an HTS material may be improved by depositing a modifying material onto appropriate surfaces of the HTS film to create a modified HTS film. In some implementations of the invention, the HTS film may be in the form of a “c-film.” In some implementations of the invention, the HTS film may be in the form of an “a-b film,” an “a-film” or a “b-film.” The modified HTS film has improved operational characteristics over the HTS film alone or without the modifying material. Such operational characteristics may include operating in a superconducting state at increased temperatures, carrying additional electrical charge, operating with improved magnetic properties, operating with improved mechanic properties or other improved operational characteristics. In some implementations of the invention, the HTS material is a mixed-valence copper-oxide perovskite, such as, but not limited to YBCO.

Abstract: The superconductive nanocomposite is a composition formed by nanoparticles of a high temperature superconductor blended with a polymer matrix containing natural rubber and polyethylene. The high temperature superconductor is preferably a bismuth-based superconductor (BSCCO) having a particle size of about 21 nm, but may be any other high temperature or Type II ceramic, metal oxide superconductor. The superconductor nanoparticles comprise about 15% of the weight of natural rubber in the composition. The polyethylene is preferably low density polyethylene and may comprise between 0% up to about 40% of the weight of natural rubber in the composition. The nanocomposite may be prepared by blending the components and roll milling the rubber.

Abstract: For producing the superconducting material MgB2, a shapeable master alloy containing Mg and B, as well as at least one additional constituent, an LiMgB alloy is.1 The process permits the production of shaped elements of MgB2, for example by forging, casting, drawing, etc.

Abstract: Methods for forming sensors using transition edge sensors (TES) and sensors therefrom are described. The method includes forming a plurality of sensor arrays includes at least one TES device. The TES device includes a TES device body, a first superconducting lead contacting a first portion of the TES device body, and a second superconducting lead contacting of a second portion of the TES device body, where the first and second superconducting leads separated on the TES device body by a lead spacing. The lead spacing can be selected to be different for at least two of the plurality of sensor arrays. The method also includes determining a transition temperature for each of the plurality of sensor arrays and generating a signal responsive to detecting a change in the electrical characteristics of one of the plurality of sensor arrays meeting a transition temperature criterion.

Abstract: A method of compensating for thermal contraction of superconducting and cryo-resistive cables. The method includes the steps of determining a compensation length for a cable such that when the cable is subjected to an operating temperature, the cable is in or near a stress-free state, and installing the cable into a pipe such that portions of the cable extend outwardly past ends of the pipe. The method further includes the steps of marking each end of the cable such that the determined compensation length is visibly shown, forcing the cable into the pipe at an ambient installation temperature such that a cable pattern is formed therein, and maintaining the cable in the pipe to prevent the cable from being pushed out of the pipe.

Abstract: A superconducting magnet assembly and method of cooling a superconducting magnet assembly.

Abstract: A superconductor for mitigating the effects of local current disruptions in a superconducting filament. The superconductor comprises superconducting filaments covered by a medium in electrical communication with the filaments. The covering medium has anisotropic conductivity, the conductivity in a direction substantially aligned with the filaments being selected to stabilize the superconductor near the critical temperature, and the conductivity of the covering in a direction substantially perpendicular to the filaments being selected to permit controlled current sharing between the filaments, especially when a filament is compromised, while simultaneously limiting alternating current (ac) losses. In various embodiments, the covering comprises a wire mesh having longitudinal wires made of a first material having a first conductivity, and transverse wires made of a second material having a second conductivity, different from the first conductivity.

Abstract: The invention relates to a superconducting element joint comprising a joint between two superconducting elements comprising at least one direct SC-SC transition joint. By the invention an improved superconducting element joint may be obtained. The invention also relates to a process for providing such superconducting element joint and a superconducting cable system comprising such superconducting element joint.

Abstract: Methods for depositing, at a very high deposition rate, a biaxially-textured film on a continuously moving metal tape substrate are disclosed. These methods comprise: depositing a film on the substrate with a deposition flux having an oblique incident angle of about 5° to about 80° from the substrate normal, while simultaneously bombarding the deposited film using an ion beam at an ion beam incident angle arranged along either a best ion texture direction of the film or along a second best ion texture direction of the film, thereby forming the biaxially-textured film, wherein a deposition flux incident plane is arranged parallel to a direction along which the biaxially-textured film has a fast in-plane growth rate. Superconducting articles comprising a substrate, a biaxially-textured film deposited on said substrate by said methods above; and a superconducting layer disposed on the biaxially-textured film are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method is provided for bonding a ceramic ht superconductor to metal support that includes bonding the ceramic ht superconductor to a metal support by a heat conductive bonding agent. The heat conductive bonding agent is filled into at least one through hole provided in the ceramic ht superconductor, where the bonding agent, at the interface between the metal support and the ceramic ht superconductor and the bonding agent within the at least one through hole, is in contact with each other.

Abstract: The invention offers a method of producing a (Bi, Pb)-2223-based oxide superconducting material. The method is for producing a (Bi, Pb)2Sr2Ca2Cu3OZ-based oxide superconducting material. The method includes a material-mixing step for forming a mixed material and at least two heat treatment steps for heat-treating the mixed material. The at least two heat treatment steps has a first heat treatment step for forming (Bi, Pb)-2223 crystals and a second heat treatment step for increasing the Sr content of the (Bi, Pb)-2223 crystals after the (Bi, Pb)-2223 crystals are formed. The second heat treatment step is performed at a temperature lower than that employed in the first heat treatment step, so that the (Bi, Pb)-2223-based oxide superconducting material has a high critical temperature.

Abstract: A superconducting joint that structurally binds a first superconducting segment to a second superconducting segment. The first and second superconducting segment each include corresponding areas containing a granular superconducting substance formed by a first element and a second element. The superconducting joint includes a solid non-superconducting binding formed from a source of the first element and a source of the second element combined to produce the granular superconducting substance around the solid non-superconducting binding to permit for the flow of superconducting current through the first superconducting segment and the second superconducting segment.

Abstract: A Bi-based oxide superconductor thin film whose c-axis is oriented parallel to the substrate and whose a-axis (or b-axis) is oriented perpendicular to the substrate, is manufactured in order to obtain a high performance layered Josephson junction using a Bi-based oxide superconductor. The method of manufacturing an a-axis oriented Bi-based oxide superconductor thin film, involves an epitaxial growth process using an LaSrAlO4 single crystal substrate of a (110) plane or a LaSrGaO4 single crystal substrate of a (110) plane, for which the lattice constant matches well with a (100) plane of a Bi-2223 oxide superconductor. By this method, rather than the normally easily obtained Bi-2212, an a-axis oriented film of Bi-2223 showing an extremely high superconductive transition temperature even for a Bi-based oxide superconductor can be selectively manufactured.

Abstract: A alloy (Mg—X) of metal (X) and Mg in a liquid phase is made to react with B in a solid phase at a low temperature to manufacture a superconductor, which contains a large amount of MgB2 potential for MRI, linear motorcar, superconducting cavity, electric power transmission cable, high-magnetic field magnet for medical units, electric power storage (SMES), and the like and is formed in the shape of bulk, wire, and foil, by heat treatment performed at a low temperature for a short time and at low cost.

Abstract: A superconductor exemplarily described herein includes a superconducting material containing magnetic impurities and non-magnetic disorders formed in the superconducting material. The superconductor described herein is suitable for use in magnet applications and power transmission.

Abstract: Disclosed are a superconductive magnet manufactured by winding a thin superconductive rod wire in a coil without joint for maintaining a persistent current mode, and a method for manufacturing the same. The method includes winding both ends of a superconductive rod wire (10) on a first bobbin (21) and a second bobbin (22) respectively; forming a first unit rod wire (10a) and a second unit rod wire (10b) by slitting the superconductive rod wire (10) in the lengthwise direction; producing a pancake coil by winding the first and second unit rod wires (10a, 10b) on third bobbins (25) in one direction; and arranging the first and second unit rod wires (10a, 10b) such that magnetic fields (B, B?) in the same direction are generated from the pancake coil, by reversing one of the third bobbins (25) on which the first and second unit rod wires (10a, 10b) are wound.

Abstract: A cryogenically-cooled HTS wire includes a stabilizer having a total thickness in a range of 200-600 micrometers and a resistivity in a range of 0.8-15.0 microOhm cm at approximately 90 K. A first HTS layer is thermally-coupled to at least a portion of the stabilizer.

Abstract: An electrode is steeped in a solution of Mg and B and a negative voltage is applied to the electrode so as to precipitate superconductive MgB2 on the electrode. Superconductive MgB2 is easily manufactured in various forms and at low costs without any special device.

Abstract: A superconducting device operable at temperatures in excess of 30° K. and a method for making the device are described. A representative device is an essentially coplanar SQUID device formed in a single layer of high Tc superconducting material, the SQUID device being operable at temperatures in excess of 60° K. High energy beams, for example ion beams, are used to convert selected portions of the high Tc superconductor to nonsuperconductive properties so that the material now has both superconductive regions and nonsuperconductive regions. In this manner a superconducting loop having superconducting weak links can be formed to comprise the SQUID device.

Abstract: The method of manufacturing a superconducting quantum interference type magnetic fluxmeter including forming an input coil and a pickup coil integrated with the input coil by electrophoretically depositing high-temperature superconducting fine particles on a surface of the first cylindrical ceramic substrate, and sintering the fine particles, forming a high-temperature superconductor magnetic shield tube by electrophoretically depositing high-temperature superconducting fine particles on an entire surface of the second cylindrical ceramic substrate, and sintering the fine particles, magnetically coupling the input coil and the high-temperature superconducting quantum interference type element by placing the pickup coil such that a distal end portion thereof is inserted within a lower end portion of the magnetic shield tube and inserting the high-temperature superconducting quantum interference type element from an upper end portion of the magnetic shield tube.

Abstract: Superconductor reactors, methods and systems are disclosed.

Abstract: Method of forming an as-grown film of a superconductor composed of the MgB2 compound which is made by simultaneous evaporation of magnesium and boron is provided. The as-grown film is superconductive without an annealing process to make the film superconductive. The present invention can be applied to fabricate an integrated circuit of the superconductor film, because the high temperature annealing process to make the as-grown film superconductive is not needed.

Abstract: The present invention concerns an enhancement of the supercurrent carrying capabilities of bicrystalline or polycrystalline high-Tc superconductors, i.e. the critical current densities in such superconductors. The current transport properties are improved by chemically altering, especially doping, the superconductors. It seems that a modification of the space-charge layers at the boundary, e.g. by an increase of the mobile charge carrier concentrations particularly in the superconductor's grain boundaries, which concentrations differ from those resulting in optimum superconducting properties of the grains, are responsible for this positive effect.

Abstract: A multi-layer passivation barrier (24) for, and a method of, passivating a superconducting layer (22) of a microelectronic device (20). The passivation barrier includes a passivating layer (32) and a barrier buffering layer (30). The passivating layer provides a barrier to moisture, salts, alkali metals and the like located outside the device. The passivating layer also provides a barrier to outdiffusion of oxygen from the superconducting layer. The buffering layer permits oxygen to diffuse therethrough and provides a barrier to prevent diffusion of one or more constituent chemical elements of the passivating layer into the superconducting layer. The method includes the steps of depositing the barrier buffering layer (30) onto the superconducting layer (22) and depositing the passivating layer (32) onto the buffering layer.

Abstract: A process of preparing superconducting magnesium diboride powder by heating an admixture of solid magnesium and amorphous boron powder or pellet under an inert atmosphere in a Mg:B ratio of greater than about 0.6:1 at temperatures and for time sufficient to form said superconducting magnesium diboride. The process can further include exposure to residual oxygen at high synthesis temperatures followed by slow cooling. In the cooling process oxygen atoms dissolved into MgB2 segregated to form nanometer-sized coherent Mg(B,O) precipitates in the MgB2 matrix, which can act as flux pinning centers.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of forming a superconductor, comprising the steps of: providing a substrate and exposing the substrate to a first atmosphere, including precursors to form a first epitaxial layer segment. The first layer segment is then exposed to a second atmosphere, including precursors to form a second epitaxial layer segment, and the second layer segment is exposed to a third atmosphere including precursors to form a third epitaxial layer segment. Each of the first and third layer segments are each formed from a superconductor material and the second layer segment is formed from a material different from the first and third layer segments and the first, second and third layer segments have a collective thickness, the third layer segment having an outer surface with a roughness which is less than that of a single layer of the superconductor material with a thickness equal to the collective thickness.

Abstract: There are disclosed an oxide superconductor which is made of an oxide superconductive bulk body (e.g. a rare earth element base copper-oxide superconductive bulk body) which has a resin impregnated layer (e.g. epoxy base resin impregnated layer), and, optionally, a proper amount of silver or a silver oxide; and a process for producing the above oxide superconductor which comprises impregnating a resin into an oxide superconductive bulk body by bringing the resin in liquid form into contact with the bulk body which is preserved in an atmosphere of reduced pressure. The above superconductor is capable of assuring a high trapped magnetic field and maintaining its performance for a long period of time without being affected by internal or external forces such as electromagnetic forces or thermal strains or by corrosive environments.

Abstract: A method of preparing a superconducting oxide by combining the metallic elements of the oxide to form an alloy, followed by oxidation of the alloy to form the oxide. Superconducting oxide-metal composites are prepared in which a noble metal phase intimately mixed with the oxide phase results in improved mechanical properties. The superconducting oxides and oxide-metal composites are provided in a variety of useful forms.

Abstract: A superconductive ceramic composite material with high strength and capable of plastic deformation is prepared by mixing and sintering a superconductive powder represented by (RE.sub.x AE.sub.1-x).sub.1-y Cu.sub.y O.sub.z (RE represents Y or a rare-earth element having an atomic number of 57-71, or a combination of at least two of these elements, AE is at least one of alkaline earth elements Ca, Sr and Ba, x is 0.13-0.67, y is 0.25-0.67, and z is 1.08-1.17) and a metal powder M (M represents at least one of noble metals Rh, Pd, Ag, Ir, Pt and Au), in a defined ratio. The deformation (e.g., rolling) is followed by reheat-treatment (resintering). The powder mixture can be enclosed in a metallic capsule or made into a clad sheet by interposing the powder within two metallic sheets, and deformed (drawn or press formed into a desired shape) followed by sintering. The composite material may contain a superconductive network of such grains.

Abstract: A method for producing a compound oxide superconducting thin film, comprising forming an oxide thin film on the surface of a substrate of a first metal element having a redox charge by oxidizing the metal, using the oxide thin film thus formed as an electrode for oxidation reaction of a second metal element contained in an electrolyte solution or molten salt to incorporate the second metal element in the oxide thin film, using the compound oxide thin film thus formed as an electrode to obtain a cyclic voltammogram, and electrochemically processing the compound oxide thin film at an electrolytic potential that is determined based on the cyclic voltammogram.

Abstract: A flux-trapped superconducting magnet which is formed of high transition temperature superconducting mixture doped with a magnetic material having a Curie temperature below the transition temperature of the superconducting mixture.

Abstract: A process for preparing a copper oxide superconductor of (Ba,Sr)-Cu-C-O containing carbonate radicals is disclosed, which comprises the steps of: mixing alkaline earth metal compounds and a copper compound with a molar ratio of 1.1 to 2.25 to obtain a mixture; pressing said mixture to form a pellet; and sintering said pellet in an oxygen atmosphere, wherein the alkaline earth metal compounds including a barium compound selected from the group consisting of barium carbonate and barium oxalate, and a strontium compound selected from the group consisting of strontium carbonate and strontium oxalate and the copper compound selected from the group consisting of copper carbonate, copper nitrate, copper oxalate and copper oxide.

Abstract: A method is disclosed to increase the critical transition temperature of superconducting materials by the selective application of stress to specific crystal directions. It has been found that by applying tensile stresses in certain directions and compressive stresses in other directions that the critical temperature of superconducting materials can be substantially increased.