Abstract: A method of forming a superconducting conductor is disclosed. The method provides translating a substrate tape through a deposition chamber and along a helical path, where the helical path has multiple windings of the substrate tape and each winding of the substrate tape extends along a feed path and a return path. The method further provides depositing a HTS layer overlying the substrate tape within a deposition chamber, wherein the deposition chamber houses the substrate tape along the feed path but not the return path.

Abstract: A method of facilitating superconducting tape manufacturing is provided that includes forming a long-length superconducting tape having a layered structure, comprising a substrate having a dimension ratio not less than about 100, a buffer layer overlying the substrate, and a high temperature superconducting layer overlying the buffer layer. The method further includes characterizing the superconducting tape to create a data set having a plurality of values that are a function of length of the superconducting tape and distributing both the superconducting tape and the data set.

Abstract: A superconducting article is provided that includes a substrate, an anti-epitaxial film over the substrate, a buffer film having biaxial crystal texture over the anti-epitaxial film, and a superconductor layer over the second buffer film. Also provided is a superconducting article as a tape, in a power cable, and a power transformer.

Abstract: A superconducting article and a method of making a superconducting article is described. The method of forming a superconducting article includes providing a substrate, forming a buffer layer to overlie the substrate, the buffer layer including a first buffer film deposited in the presence of an ion beam assist source and having a uniaxial crystal texture. The method further includes forming a superconducting layer to overlie the buffer layer.

Abstract: A superconductive article is disclosed, having a substrate a buffer layer overlying the substrate, and a superconductive layer overlying the buffer layer. According to embodiments, the article may have low density characteristics, associated with the article as a whole and/or individual layers of the article. The article may be embodied in the form of long length conductors, coiled long length conductors, and machines incorporating such coils, for example.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for forming a high-temperature superconducting film on a long tape substrate at speeds suitable for large-scale production. The method includes a spooling system for use in a high-throughput, continuous pulsed laser deposition (PLD) process in which a superconducting layer, such as yttrium-barium-copper-oxide (YBCO), is deposited atop a buffered metal substrate tape that is translated through one or more deposition chambers via the action of a reel-to-reel spooling system and a conductive-radiant multi-zone substrate heater. It also optionally includes a multi-target manipulator apparatus and multiple laser beams in which multiple targets are impinged upon simultaneously.

Abstract: A tape manufacturing system and a tape-surface-inspection unit are disclosed. The tape-surface-inspection unit is capable of continuously characterizing the surface of a non-transparent tape that is usable with or without a tape manufacturing system. The tape-surface-inspection unit includes a surface illuminator, an imager, an image processor, a tape guide, and, optionally, an indexer. The surface illuminator provides a tape surface located by the tape guide in a manner that allows the imager to capture images for characterization by the image processor. The indexer facilitates a correlation of locations along the tape and a characterization of the locations on the tape. The tape manufacturing system, in addition to at least one tape-surface-inspection unit, includes a tape-processing unit, a tape handler, and a controller.

Abstract: Disclosed is a reel-to-reel substrate tape polishing and cleaning system including precleaning, electropolishing section and post cleaning sections and which is suitable for polishing and cleaning long lengths of metal substrate tape used in the manufacture of HTS-coated tape.

Abstract: A superconducting tape is disclosed, including a substrate having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, the substrate including a plurality of indicia provided on the first surface spaced apart along a length of the substrate; and a superconductor layer overlying the second surface. Also disclosed are components incorporating superconducting tapes, methods for manufacturing same, and methods for using same.

Abstract: A tape manufacturing system and a tape-surface-inspection unit are disclosed. The tape-surface-inspection unit is capable of continuously characterizing the surface of a non-transparent tape that is usable with or without a tape manufacturing system. The tape-surface-inspection unit includes a surface illuminator, an imager, an image processor, a tape guide, and, optionally, an indexer. The surface illuminator provides a tape surface located by the tape guide in a manner that allows the imager to capture images for characterization by the image processor. The indexer facilitates a correlation of locations along the tape and a characterization of the locations on the tape. The tape manufacturing system, in addition to at least one tape-surface-inspection unit, includes a tape-processing unit, a tape handler, and a controller.

Abstract: A tape-manufacturing system for coating at least one tape substrate such as, for example, for the manufacture of a high-temperature superconductor (HTS) conductor is disclosed. The tape-manufacturing system includes at least two electron beam (e-beam) deposition sources, at least one assist source and, optionally, a controller. Each e-beam deposition source may be in-process repairable. Each e-beam deposition source is capable of communicating an evaporant material with at least a portion of at least one tape substrate to deposit a coating thereon. The at least one assist source is capable of communicating a beam of a species to the coating. The controller communicates with the at least two e-beam deposition sources and the at least one assist source.

Abstract: A superconducting tape is disclosed, including a substrate having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, the substrate including a plurality of indicia provided on the first surface spaced apart along a length of the substrate; and a superconductor layer overlying the second surface. Also disclosed are components incorporating superconducting tapes, methods for manufacturing same, and methods for using same.

Abstract: A low alternating current loss superconducting cable is provided, including a plurality of superconducting tapes spirally wound around a longitudinally extending core. The tapes are provided in a path between about 5° and 85° relative to the longitudinal axis of the core such that the tape completely covers the surface of the core. The tapes are generally parallel to each other and include first and second tapes that are adjacent to each other. The first and second tapes partially overlap each other.

Abstract: A superconducting tape is disclosed, including a substrate, a buffer layer overlying the substrate, a superconductor layer overlying the buffer layer, and stabilizer layers overlying opposite sides of the tape. Also disclosed are components incorporating superconducting tapes, methods for manufacturing same, and methods for using same.

Abstract: A superconductive article is disclosed, having a substrate a buffer layer overlying the substrate, and a superconductive layer overlying the buffer layer. According to embodiments, the article may have low density characteristics, associated with the article as a whole and/or individual layers of the article. The article may be embodied in the form of long length conductors, coiled long length conductors, and machines incorporating such coils, for example.

Abstract: A method of coating a substrate for a high temperature superconductor material is disclosed, including loading a substrate into a first deposition chamber, routing the substrate in the first deposition chamber such that the substrate forms a helical winding in the first deposition chamber, and depositing a first buffer layer to overlie the substrate as the substrate translates along the helical winding. The buffer layer has a biaxial crystallographic texture.

Abstract: A superconducting article includes a first superconductive segment having a nominal thickness tn1, a second superconductive segment having a nominal thickness tn2, and a joint region comprising a splice connecting the first and second superconductive segments together. The splice overlies portions of both the first and second superconductive segments along the joint region, the joint region having a thickness tjr, wherein tjr is not greater than at least one of 1.8 tn1 and 1.8 tn2.

Abstract: A superconductor article includes a substrate and a first buffer film disposed on the substrate. The first buffer film includes a polycrystalline material. An IBAD (ion-beam assisted deposition) second buffer film is disposed on the first buffer film, the second buffer film having a biaxial crystal texture. A superconductor layer can be disposed on the second buffer film.

Abstract: A chemical vapor deposition (CVD) apparatus usable in the manufacture of a superconducting conductor on an elongate substrate is disclosed. The CVD apparatus includes a reactor, at least one substrate heater, and at least one precursor injector having a longitudinal flow distributor. Optionally, the CVD apparatus may include one of a transverse lateral flow restrictor, a shield for protecting a low-temperature region of the substrate, and both.

Abstract: A superconducting tape is disclosed, including a substrate, a buffer layer overlying the substrate, a superconductor layer overlying the buffer layer, and stabilizer layers overlying opposite sides of the tape. Also disclosed are components incorporating superconducting tapes, methods for manufacturing same, and methods for using same.