Abstract: A method of measuring superconducting critical current in persistent mode using superconducting closed loops which allow the persistent current to flow without any joints. This persistent critical current is different than traditional resistive critical current that is the upper limit of the superconducting current carrying capacity, and provides the information about the range of critical current in persistent mode that is more close to applications in MRI, SMES, and Maglev operations. The measurement can be used as a quality control method in the manufacturing process and a piece of crucial information to magnet manufacturers for the design and fabrication of magnet. The superconducting materials include the second generation superconducting wires (coated conductors) based on Rare Earth (RE) Barium Copper Oxide superconducting material (REBa2Cu3O6+x, REBCO), or any other type of superconducting wires that can be manufactured in the form of tape.

Abstract: A method of measuring superconducting critical current in persistent mode using superconducting closed loops which allow the persistent current to flow without any joints. This persistent critical current is different than traditional resistive critical current that is the upper limit of the superconducting current carrying capacity, and provides the information about the range of critical current in persistent mode that is more close to applications in MRI, SMES, and Maglev operations. The measurement can be used as a quality control method in the manufacturing process and a piece of crucial information to magnet manufacturers for the design and fabrication of magnet. The superconducting materials include the second generation superconducting wires (coated conductors) based on Rare Earth (RE) Barium Copper Oxide superconducting material (REBa2Cu3O6+x, REBCO), or any other type of superconducting wires that can be manufactured in the form of tape.

Abstract: Provided are devices for inducing a current in a closed loop superconducting material including a magnetic field source housed within a coil former substantially coaxial with the magnetic field source, and a base optionally in physical contact with a support tube. A closed loop superconducting material is held in a loop position by the coil former and the base such that current passing through the magnetic field source will produce a current in the superconducting material by induction. By a process of modified current sweep reversal, the rate of relaxation may be reduced in the superconducting material relative to the absence of a reversal.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of making a high temperature superconductor having a doped, nanoparticulate pinning structure. The method includes providing a nanoparticulate pinning material, providing a cuprate material, doping the nanoparticulate pinning material with a dopant to form a doped nanoparticulate material, depositing a layer of the cuprate material on a substrate, and depositing a layer of the doped nanoparticulate material on the layer of cuprate material. The invention also provides a high temperature superconductor (HTS) having a doped, nanoparticulate pinning structure including a plurality of layers of a cuprate material and a plurality of layers of a doped nanoparticulate pinning material. At least one layer of the doped nanoparticulate pinning material is stacked between two layers of the cuprate material.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of making a high temperature superconductor having a doped, nanoparticulate pinning structure. The method includes providing a nanoparticulate pinning material, providing a cuprate material, doping the nanoparticulate pinning material with a dopant to form a doped nanoparticulate material, depositing a layer of the cuprate material on a substrate, and depositing a layer of the doped nanoparticulate material on the layer of cuprate material. The invention also provides a high temperature superconductor (HTS) having a doped, nanoparticulate pinning structure including a plurality of layers of a cuprate material and a plurality of layers of a doped nanoparticulate pinning material. At least one layer of the doped nanoparticulate pinning material is stacked between two layers of the cuprate material.

Abstract: A method for enhancing the flux pinning of a YBCO superconductor by substituting minute quantities of rare earth elements (La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Pm, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu) or other deleterious elements (Sc, etc.) for Y in YBCO thin films is described. The method of the present invention enables enhanced flux pinning of the material while not significantly increasing the cost of the HIS material and can be used in all HTS deposition methods since it is not process dependent.

Abstract: An AC-tolerant high temperature superconductor tape with transposed filaments having two layers of high temperature superconducting material with striations and corresponding filaments and an insulating layer positioned therebetween.

Abstract: Nanometer-sized non-superconducting particulates in superconductive REBCO films, where RE is a rare earth metal, for flux pinning enhancement and a method of forming are disclosed. A target with a second phase material sector portion and a superconductive material portion is used in a pulse laser deposition process to form films on substrates according to the present invention. The films consist of 10-20 nm-sized precipitates. In a 0.5 ?m thick film, a transport critical current density (Jc)>3 MA/cm2 at 77K in self-field was measured. In one embodiment, magnetization Jc at 77 K and 65K showed significant improvements in a composite YBCO films with fine precipitates produced according to the present invention as compared to non-doped (standard) YBCO films (>10 times increase at 9 T, 65 K).

Abstract: A superconductor coating inclusive, tape-like electrical conductor and windings using such conductor for magnets and electrical machines, etc. The described windings are suited for inclusion of successor superconductor materials such as yttrium barium copper oxide wherein magnetic flux related losses can potentially be excessive and preclude successful machine operation. Winding orientation and configuration of the conductor in an alternating current machine for lower losses are disclosed along with methods and apparatus for achieving the desired windings. Windings intended for differing locations within a machine of this type are made possible by the invention. Equations relating to magnetic losses incurred in such windings are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a high temperature superconductor is disclosed. The method includes depositing, by pulsed laser deposition, alternating layers of YBa2Cu3O7-x (Y123) and Y2BaCuO5-y (Y211). The Y211 layers are characterized by a multiplicity of nanosized globular inclusions, effectively enhancing flux pinning and thus increasing current transport.

Abstract: A method of depositing nanoparticles for flux pinning into a superconducting material is described. According to the method of the present invention, a target made of superconducting material and a substrate are placed in the deposition chamber of a pulsed laser deposition apparatus. A first, moderate vacuum level is established in the chamber and the target is irradiated with light from a pulsed, high energy laser. By virtue of the moderate vacuum level, the material ejected from the target is slowed sufficiently to agglomerate into nanoparticles having the same composition as the target material. These nanoparticles are deposited upon the substrate. A uniform layer of superconducting material is deposited on the substrate by evacuating the deposition chamber to a second, high vacuum level and performing the pulsed laser deposition process again. The nanoparticles thus deposited within the superconducting material act as a flux pinning mechanism.