Abstract: An electron beam installation, which is used for processing powdered material, has a powder container, which can accommodate a powder bed made of the powdered material to be processed. Furthermore, it has an electron beam generator, which is configured to direct an electron beam onto laterally differing locations of the powder bed. To reduce the dispersion of the powdered material during the processing using the electron beam, the electron beam installation has a frit device, which, by applying an AC voltage between at least two electrodes, generates an electromagnetic alternating field, which bonds the powdered material of the powder bed, at least in regions over the powder bed.

Abstract: A heat transfer device and method are disclosed. The device includes a working region (i.e., working substance) made from a first superconducting material having a superconducting state and a normal state when magnetized. The first superconducting material has a first energy gap while in the superconducting state. A substrate (i.e., cold reservoir) is connected to the working region at a first tunnel junction. The substrate may be a metallic substrate. A heat sink (i.e., hot reservoir) is connected to the working region at a second tunnel junction. The heat sink is made from a second superconducting material having a second energy gap that is larger than the first energy gap. In a particular example, the heat transfer device includes a metallic substrate is made from Copper, a working region made from Tantalum, a heat sink made from Niobium, and the first and second tunnel junctions are made from Tantalum Oxide.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and an apparatus capable of continuously and accurately separating, by type, a mixture containing at least two types of particles, or capable of separating specific particles from the mixture, using a gradient magnetic field. In the present invention, a mixture containing at least two types of particles, particles of one type of which are made of a paramagnetic or diamagnetic substance, is treated. A magnetic field whose magnetic field gradient has a vertical component and a horizontal component is applied to a supporting liquid 21 stored in a separating tank 31. When the mixture is placed into the supporting liquid 21, the particles of the one type are guided such that they are positioned in the supporting liquid 21 at a predetermined height from a bottom face 39 of the separating tank 31 while horizontally traveling. Alternatively, the particles of the one type magnetically levitate at a liquid surface of the supporting liquid 21 and horizontally travel.

Abstract: An object motion analysis apparatus includes a processor configured to generate a connection element connecting multiple first particles included in a first object based on physical quantity data of the first particles, refer to physical quantity data of a second particle included in a second object, calculate a shortest distance between the second particle and the generated connection element, calculate a repulsive force between the first object and the second particle based on the calculated shortest distance, and analyze motion of the first object and the second object based on the calculated repulsive force.

Abstract: The method comprises stripping matrix material from superconducting wires to expose superconducting filaments, placing the filaments between electrically conductive pieces, and applying magnetic welding to the electrically conductive pieces. The resulting superconducting joint comprises the filaments cold welded with molecular bonds between each other and between the filaments and the two electrically conductive pieces.

Abstract: A particle trap and an associated method of trapping particles are provided. The particle trap includes a body formed of a high temperature superconductor (HTS). The body defines a cavity therethrough. The particle trap also includes first and second HTS end plates or first and second electrodes positioned at opposite ends of the cavity. At least one of the end plates or at least one of the electrodes defines at least one opening into the cavity to permit charged particles to enter and exit the cavity.

Abstract: A sintering apparatus comprising a container for holding small particles that contact one another, an electric current generator generating an alternating electric current and a flux concentrator having a collector positioned to be exposed to an alternating magnetic field generated by the alternating electric current and a tip that focuses the alternating magnetic field so that the particles are exposed to the alternating magnetic field, the alternating magnetic field heating surfaces of the particles so that they join and are fused together.

Abstract: This invention relates to methods and apparatus for magnetizing a superconductor, in particular to flux pumps, and to new types magnetized superconductor. A method of changing the magnetisation of a superconductor, the method comprising automatically controlling a magnetic field to generate a wave of changing magnetic flux travelling over a surface of said superconductor.

Abstract: A method of searching for a material fated to generate an interband phase difference soliton includes the steps of generating an AC in a soliton candidate material, identifying a loss of AC magnetic susceptibility of the siliton candidate material due to a turn and a twist cut of a vortex line and judging whether or not the soliton candidate material is capable of generating soliton.

Abstract: This invention relates to methods and apparatus for magnetizing a superconductor, in particular to flux pumps, and to new types magnetized superconductor. A method of changing the magnetisation of a superconductor, the method comprising automatically controlling a magnetic field to generate a wave of changing magnetic flux travelling over a surface of said superconductor.

Abstract: A magnetic field generator comprises a superconducting bulk body, which generates a superconducting magnetic field, a refrigerant vessel for storing solid nitrogen, a vacuum container, which accommodates therein the superconducting bulk body and the refrigerant vessel, and a refrigerator having a cooling head for cooling the refrigerant vessel. The superconducting bulk body is arranged along a wall of the vacuum container. The cooling head of the refrigerator and the refrigerant vessel are in thermal contact with each other. The refrigerant vessel and the superconducting bulk body are in thermal contact with each other.

Abstract: A method of searching for a material fated to generate an interband phase difference soliton includes the steps of generating an AC in a soliton candidate material, identifying a loss of AC magnetic susceptibility of the siliton candidate material due to a turn and a twist cut of a vortex line and judging whether or not the soliton candidate material is capable of generating soliton.

Abstract: A method is provided for producing a superconductive electrical conductor (7) in which a layer of an yttrium-barium-copper oxide (YBCO) is applied as a superconductive material onto a textured metal base directly or after prior application of a buffer layer, and is subjected to a heat treatment. To this end an interlayer of a metallic material which is compatible with the crystal structure of YBCO, or with the structure of a buffer layer suitable for the application of YBCO, is initially applied all around onto an elongate metal support (1). The support (1) provided with the interlayer is subsequently processed so that predetermined texturing is imparted to the interlayer as a metal base for the layer of YBCO material or for the buffer layer. The layer of superconductive YBCO material is then applied all around, directly onto the textured interlayer or onto the buffer layer previously applied thereon, and the heat treatment is finally carried out.

Abstract: Methods for reducing hysteresis losses in superconductor coated ribbons where a flux distribution is set into the superconductor coated ribbon prior to the application of alternating current.

Abstract: It is an object to provide a tuning circuit which has large fractional frequency band width, for example frequency band of the return loss of less than −10 dB. The tuning circuit is composed of a superconductor microstrip lines, a superconductor distributed tunnel junction elements, a signal input part and a signal output part. It comprises at least a superconductor microstrip line and at least two superconductor tunnel junction elements, wherein the microstrip line and the tunnel junction element are connected alternately. The microstrip line and the tunnel junction element are half-wavelength of an input signal at a center frequency. A quarter-wavelength impedance transformer is comprised between a signal input part and a half-wavelength tunnel junction which is nearest to the signal input part.

Abstract: A palladium hydride superconductor, PdyHx where yHx is 1Hx, 2Hx, or 3Hx, having a critical temperature Tc≧11K and stoichiometric ratio x≧1. The critical temperature is proportional to a power of the stoichiometric ratio, which is stable over periods exceeding 24 hours, temperature variations from 4K to 400K, and pressures down to 1 mbar. The palladium hydride is coated with a stabilizing material such as a metal, metal oxide, ceramic, or polymer that can bond to palladium. It can be made by electrochemically loading a palladium lattice with isotopic hydrogen in an electrolytic solution, by allowing isotopic hydrogen to diffuse into a palladium thin film in a pressure chamber, or by injecting isotopic hydrogen into a palladium thin film in a vacuum chamber. The stabilizing material can be electrochemically bonded to the surface of the palladium hydride, or deposited using chemical vapor deposition or molecular beam epitaxy.

Abstract: A craft that includes superconductive materials that are supported within the geomagnetic field of the earth by means of the Meissner effect. The craft is propelled by means of directing a current from a point to another therein which creates a propelling force thereon within such magnetic field as determined by the right-hand motor rule.

Abstract: The present invention comprises novel materials comprising composite high-Tc superconductors which contain a dispersion of precipitates and structural defects and thereby exhibit enhanced flux pinning and enhanced critical current in the superconducting state, and novel nanophase orientation processes for their preparation.

Abstract: A method of inducing biaxial particle alignment in a body of crystalline particles of a material such as a high temperature superconducting material, having anisotropic magnetic susceptibility so that at least a major portion of the crystalline particles have at least two crystalline axes generally parallel, comprises subjecting the particles to a magnetic field which varies cyclically relative to the body of crystalline particles with time, and which has an average magnitude which is a maximum in a first direction, a lower average magnitude in a second direction generally orthogonal to said first direction and a minimum or zero average magnitude in a third direction generally orthogonal to said first and second directions. Alignment of the axis of maximum magnetic susceptibility of the particles generally with the direction of maximum average magnitude and the axis of minimum magnetic susceptibility of the particles generally with the minimum or zero average magnitude direction is induced.

Abstract: The invention relates for separating different electrically conductive particles, especially of waste materials, by means of an eddy-current separation, whereby the supplied particles to be separated are cooled. The invention also relates to an eddy-current separator provided for carrying out said method. The separator has a rotational magnet system and a transport system for guiding the particles to be separated along the magnet system. A cooling chamber through which the particles are guided is located immediately upstream from the magnet system. The conductivity of the non-iron metallic particles is increased by cooling thus allowing differential separation of these materials.

Abstract: A high Tc superconducting ceramics material is produced by a method in which a mixture of chemicals in suitable amounts is compacted into a desired form. The compact mixture is then fired and, at the same time, a magnetic field is apilied to the compacted mixture in a predetermined direction. By virtue of the application of magnetic field during firing, the orderliness of molecular arrangement is enhanced and an elevated transition temperature Tc is obtained.

Abstract: Articles according to the invention comprise a superconductive cuprate (e.g., YBa.sub.2 Cu.sub.3 O.sub.7) body containing elongate grains measuring at least about 10 .mu.m along the long axis and having an aspect ratio of at least 10:1. Bodies according to the invention can have relatively high critical current density, as compared to analogous non-textured bodies.

Abstract: A method for separating a powder into a superconducting fraction and a tailing fraction, or of separating a powder into a magnetically active fraction and a tailing fraction. The powder is mixed with a paramagnetic liquid to form a slurry. The slurry is poured down an incline while being subjected to a downslope-traveling magnetic field. The superconducting or magnetically active particles move upslope.

Abstract: A process for the oxygenation of ceramic high T.sub.c superconductors is disclosed. The superconductor is formed from a sintered powdered ceramic. Microchannels are formed in the ceramic material by embedding in the powder a plurality of wires or fibers formed of a material which is thermally removable during the sintering process to leave thin, continuous, tubular channels. After sintering, the ceramic is exposed to oxygen in a high temperature, high pressure environment. The microchannels aid in the transport of oxygen into the interior of the material by providing passages along which the oxygen travels prior to diffusing into the material. The lengths of the diffusion paths in the material are thereby greatly shortened. In another embodiment, the channels are formed after sintering and prior to oxygenation by drilling, punching, or etching.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a process and apparatus for forming textures in materials. It uses so called "normal aligners" having an anisotropy in the paramagnetic susceptibility within a magnetic field having compositions REBa.sub.2 Cu.sub.3 O.sub.x or Bi(Tl).sub.2 Sr.sub.2 Ca.sub.1-y RE.sub.y Cu.sub.2 O.sub.x, where RE=Eu, Er, Tm, and Yb. One version of the process for preparing bulk and elongated objects comprises two steps. In the first step the material is uniaxially aligned. In the second step uniaxially aligned material is heated to a temperature approaching its melting point while a magnetic field of at least 10.sup.4 Oe, with a direction perpendicular to the axis of uniaxial alignment is simultaneously applied. The process results in biaxially, highly textured bulk and elongated materials.

Abstract: A composite includes granules of Type II superconducting material and granules of rare-earth permanent magnets that are distributed in a binder. The composite is a two-phase structure that combines the properties of the superconductor and magnets with the flexibility and toughness of a polymeric material. A bearing made from this composite has the load capacity and stiffness of a permanent magnet bearing with added stability from a Type II superconducting material.

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: High-Tc superconducting ceramic oxide products and macroscopic and microscopic methods for making such high-Tc superconducting products. Completely sealed high-Tc superconducting ceramic oxide products are made by a macroscopic process including the steps of pressing a superconducting ceramic oxide powder into a hollow body of a material inert to oxygen; heat treating the superconducting ceramic oxide powder packed body under conditions sufficient to sinter the ceramic oxide powder; and then sealing any openings of the body. Optionally, a waveform or multiple pulses of alternate magnetic field can be applied during the heat treatment.

Abstract: Superconducting materials and methods of forming superconducting materials are disclosed. Highly oxidized superconductors are heated at a relatively high temperature so as to release oxygen, which migrates out of the material, and form a non-superconducting phase which does not diffuse out of grains of the material. The material is then reoxidized at a lower temperature, leaving the non-superconducting inclusions inside a superconducting phase. The non-superconducting inclusions act as pinning centers in the superconductor, increasing the critical current thereof.

Abstract: According to this method of manufacturing a superconductor, powder materials of Y.sub.2 O.sub.3, BaCO.sub.3 and CuO are first prepared as raw materials and blended and mixed to the composition Y.sub.1 Ba.sub.2 Cu.sub.3 O.sub.x. The mixed powder thus obtained is compression-molded and thereafter sintered. A sintered body thus obtained shows the Meissner effect under the temperature of liquid nitrogen. This sintered body is pulverized into fine particles. A magnetic field is applied to the fine particles at the temperature of liquid nitrogen, thereby to select only superconductive particles. The selected superconductive particles are compression-molded during application of a magnetic field and then sintered, thereby to obtain a superconductor having high critical current density.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for fabricating textured pseudo-single crystal bulk superconducting materials, featuring introduction of a pressure gradient and/or of a magnetic field for enhancement of known melt-texturing directional solidification techniques using a steep temperature gradient furnace for increasing temperatures at which superconductive properties can be maintained in superconducting materials. The strengths of the temperature gradient, pressure gradient and/or magnetic field can be optimally varied, resulting in formation of superconducting material exhibiting superconductive properties at higher temperatures than previously achievable.