Abstract: A system and method for fabricating accelerator cavities comprises forming at least two half cavities and joining the half cavities with a longitudinal seal. The half cavities can comprise at least one of aluminum, copper, tin, and copper alloys. The half cavities can be coated with a superconductor or combination of materials configured to form a superconductor coating.

Abstract: A vertical support rigidly mounted to a planar base positions and supports a cryocooler expander unit off axis and away from a sample to be examined. The sample support is likewise rigidly mounted to the planar base with a rigidly mounted sample housing therein. The cryocooler expander unit is suspended in the vertical support by spring dampening bearings. A pair of opposing flexible vacuum bellows connects the cryocooler expander unit to the sample housing and vertical support. This configuration isolates the sample from vibration. Flexible thermal links associated with a predictive electronic closed loop control sequence maintains sample temperature.

Abstract: A superconductive element is described, comprising a rigid support made of a non-superconductive material, said support comprising at least one superconductive track formed by a groove containing a superconductive material having a density equal to at least 85% of the value of its theoretical density, and the process for producing said element. The present invention also relates to the possible uses of the superconductive elements, and also to superconductive devices comprising said superconductive elements.

Abstract: To provide a manufacturing method of a superconducting radio-frequency acceleration cavity used in a charged particle accelerator enabling the manufacturing with few waste amounts of the niobium material at low cost in a short time, the manufacturing method has each of the steps of (a) obtaining an ingot made from a disk-shaped niobium material, (b) slicing and cutting the niobium ingot into a plurality of niobium plates each with a predetermined thickness, by vibrating multiple wires back and forth while spraying fine floating abrasive grains with the niobium ingot supported, (c) removing the floating abrasive grains adhered to the sliced niobium plates, and (d) performing deep draw forming on the niobium plates and thereby obtaining a niobium cell of a desired shape.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing superconductors with critical temperature Tc>300K is disclosed. This method is from a theory of high-Tc superconductivity wherein the doping mechanism is found. A kind of superconductors composed by this method is the AlB2-type superconductors obtained by doping AlB2-type intermetallics such as Sr1-xCaxGa2. Another kind of superconductors composed by this method is the CaCu5-type superconductors obtained by doping CaCu5-type intermetallics such as L1-xAxCu5, LCu5(10x)Ni5x(A-Ca, Sr; L-La, Y, Mm,), Sr1-xCaxCu5, La1-xSrx(1-y)CaxCu5. In particular the CaCu5-type intermetallics LaNi5 and MmNi5 are superconductors with critical temperature Tc>300K. These CaCu5-type superconductors are with high critical current densities and thus are applicable for the transmission of electricity.

Abstract: A method of synthesizing a superconducting material, comprising mixing starting materials comprising magnesium, boron, silicon and carbon; heating the mixture of starting materials to a temperature in the range between 650° C. and 2000° C. to produce a material comprising magnesium boride doped with silicon carbide; and cooling the resulting material to a temperature below the critical temperature of the material to render the material capable of superconducting.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are superconducting composites, and preliminary products therefor, having a core comprising a superconducting phase, a first casing surrounding the core, and having an inner area abutting the core and having a first magnesium concentration and an outer area having a second magnesium concentration greater than the first magnesium concentration, wherein the second magnesium concentration is, on average, between 5 and 40 atomic percent. Desirably, the superconducting phase comprises a MgB2 phase. This arrangement allows for methods for producing the composites that reduce or eliminate subjecting the superconducting phase to mechanical stresses.

Abstract: A method for producing a superconductive wire, whereby an elongated intermediate element is formed out of an initial element in a deformation step and whereby the superconductive filaments are formed by a final reaction heat treatment, is characterized in that prior to the final reaction heat treatment the filaments in the intermediate element are densified in one or more high pressure densification steps following up the deformation step, said densification steps comprising a simultaneous action of at least four hard surfaces perpendicular to the axis of the elongated intermediate element, building up high pressure P?100 MPa on a part of the intermediate element having an axial length L. This leads to a substantial increase of the critical current density Jc, whereby the anisotropy factor F is be almost not affected thus enabling production of almost isotropic wires or tapes.

Abstract: A method of synthesizing a superconducting material, comprising mixing starting materials comprising magnesium, boron, silicon and carbon; heating the mixture of starting materials to a temperature in the range between 650° C. and 2000° C. to produce a material comprising magnesium boride doped with silicon carbide; and cooling the resulting material to a temperature below the critical temperature of the material to render the material capable of superconducting.

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 method for production of hollow bodies, in particular for radio-frequency resonators is shown and described. The object to provide a hollow bodies and a resonator, respectively, having improved electrical properties is achieved by a method comprising the following steps: Providing a substrate having a monocrystalline region, defining a cut area through the substrate, fitting markings on both sides of the cut area, producing two wafers by cutting along the cut area, wherein the wafers are completely removed from the monocrystalline region, forming the wafers into half-cells, wherein the half-cells have a joining area, joining together the half-cells to form a hollow body, wherein the joining areas bear on one another, and wherein the markings on the half-cells are oriented with respect to one another on both sides of the joining area as on both sides of the cut areas.

Abstract: A method for producing a superconductive element, in particular a multifilament wire, starting from a composite (1) comprising a bronze matrix containing Cu and Sn, in which at least one elongated structure containing Nb or an Nb alloy, in particular NbTa, is embedded, whereby in a first step the composite is extruded at a temperature between 300° C. and 750° C.

Abstract: A method for producing a superconductive element, in particular a multifilament wire, starting from a composite (1) comprising a bronze matrix containing Cu and Sn, in which at least one elongated structure containing Nb or an Nb alloy, in particular NbTa, is embedded, whereby in a first step the composite is extruded at a temperature between 300° C. and 750° C.

Abstract: A multi-filament superconducting wire in which the filaments comprise zirconia-stabilized ultra-fine grain Nb3Sn. The superconducting wire is formed by wire-drawing a preform comprising a metallic matrix and at least one niobium alloy rod having zirconium and oxygen in solid solution and heat treating the drawn wire in the presence of tin to yield at least one continuous filament comprising ultra-fine grain Nb3Sn having semi-coherent ZrO2 precipitates disposed therein. The ZrO2 precipitates serve to stabilize the ultra-fine grain microstructure of the Nb3Sn at temperatures up to 1100° C. and allows Nb3Sn to maintain the ultra-fine grain microstructure when heat treated at temperatures that are greater than those previously used. By using higher temperatures to form Nb3Sn, the time required for heat treatment can be significantly reduced.

Abstract: A method for producing a superconductor having a high copper to superconductor composition (Cu/SC) ratio by cross-sectional area. An assembly is prepared formed of one or more fine filaments of a superconductor composition or of a precursor component for a superconductor alloy composition, which filaments are embedded in a copper-based matrix. The assembly is electroplated with copper to increase the Cu/filament ratio in the resulting product, and thereby increase the said Cu/SC ratio to improve the stability of the final superconductor.

Abstract: The invention is intended to establish means for manufacturing MB2 single crystals and to provide a useful superconductive material (wire rod and so forth) taking advantage of anisotropic superconductive properties thereof. A mixed raw material of Mg and B or a precursor containing MgB2 crystallites, obtained by causing reaction of the mixed raw material of Mg and B, kept in contact with hexagonal boron nitride (hBN), is held at a high temperature in the range of 1300 to 1700° C. and under a high pressure in the range of 3 to 6 GPa to cause reaction for forming an intermediate product, thereby growing the MB2 single crystals having anisotropic superconductive properties via the intermediate product.

Abstract: Superconducting phases comprising magnesium diboride related composites and methods of preparation.

Abstract: There are provided an intermetallic-compound superconductor that is high in superconducting transition temperature, and an alloy superconductor that is high in superconducting transition temperature and excels in malleability and ductility, as well as a method of making such a superconductor with good reproducibility and at a low cost of manufacture. This entirely new intermetallic compound superconductor is made of magnesium (Mg) and beryllium (Be) and has a chemical composition expressed by formula: Mg1Be2, has a hexagonal AlB2 type crystallographic structure and has a superconducting transition temperature (Tc) of 35 K. An alloy containing this intermetallic compound excels in malleability and ductility and constitutes the alloy superconductor having a superconducting transition temperature (Tc) of 35 K and being low in specific resistance for normal conduction at a temperature ranging from the superconducting transition temperature to a room temperature.

Abstract: An epitaxial article and method for forming the same includes a substrate having a textured surface, and an electrochemically deposited substantially single orientation epitaxial layer disposed on and in contact with the textured surface. The epitaxial article can include an electromagnetically active layer and an epitaxial buffer layer. The electromagnetically active layer and epitaxial buffer layer can also be deposited electrochemically.

Abstract: A method for forming an electronically active biaxially textured article includes the steps of providing a substrate having a single crystal metal or metal alloy surface, deforming the substrate to form an elongated substrate surface having biaxial texture and depositing an epitaxial electronically active layer on the biaxially textured surface. The method can include at least one annealing step after the deforming step to produce the biaxially textured substrate surface. The invention can be used to form improved biaxially textured articles, such as superconducting wire and tape articles having improved Jc values.

Abstract: An epitaxial article and method for forming the same includes a substrate having a textured surface, and an electrochemically deposited substantially single orientation epitaxial layer disposed on and in contact with the textured surface. The epitaxial article can include an electromagnetically active layer and an epitaxial buffer layer. The electromagnetically active layer and epitaxial buffer layer can also be deposited electrochemically.

Abstract: A method for forming an electronically active biaxially textured article includes the steps of providing a substrate having a single crystal metal or metal alloy surface, deforming the substrate to form an elongated substrate surface having biaxial texture and depositing an epitaxial electronically active layer on the biaxially textured surface. The method can include at least one annealing step after the deforming step to produce the biaxially textured substrate surface. The invention can be used to form improved biaxially textured articles, such as superconducting wire and tape articles having improved JC values.

Abstract: Superconducting phases comprising magnesium diboride related composites and methods of preparation.

Abstract: A superconducting conductor and method for its production. The conductor is formed of least one superconducting core and an aluminum based cryogenic stabilizer which is a high purity Al—Fe—Ni aluminum alloy having a composition, in % by weight: 200 ppm≦Fe+Ni≦1500 ppm; 0.20≦Fe/(Fe+Ni)≦0.65; optionally, B<100 ppm; impurities other than Fe, Ni and B<0.01% total; and remainder aluminum.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for producing a strip-shaped superconductor with several conductor cores made of a high-Tc superconducting material and surrounded by a normal conducting material. A conductor blank (2a) produced from a fabricated conductor should be rolled flat at least once. For that purpose, the conductor blank is fed into the gap (7) between two rollers (8, 9) of which the rolling surfaces (8a, 9a) describe a concave, at least approximately elliptical contour at least in the rolling region (8a). The strip-shaped multi-core conductor produced in this way advantageously contains superconducting cores made of a bi-cuprate embedded in an Ag matrix.

Abstract: This invention relates to an oxide superconducting wire comprising (1) oxide superconducting filaments, (2) a high-density ceramic layer uniformly surrounding each of the filaments, and (3) a silver sheath that directly covers the ceramic layer. The ceramic layer becomes non-superconducting when the filaments are cooled to an operating temperature of oxide superconductors. The oxide superconductors can be isolated by the ceramic that acts as a highly resistive material or an insulator. A high normal resistance is achieved, and thereby AC loss is reduced remarkably.

Abstract: The diameter of a first metal tube charged with raw material powder is reduced for obtaining an elementary wire. A plurality of such elementary wires are charged into a second metal tube, which in turn is reduced in diameter for obtaining a round first wire having a plurality of first filaments. The first wire is uniaxially compressed thereby obtaining a tape-like second wire having a plurality of second filaments. The second wire is heat treated thereby obtaining an oxide superconducting wire including a plurality of superconductor filaments. The maximum grain size of the raw material powder is smaller than the minor diameter of the first or second filaments.

Abstract: In a bismuth oxide superconductor having a composition of Bi--Sr--Ca--Cu or (Bi,Pb)--Sr--Ca--Cu and being covered with a metal sheath, the a-b plane of a 2223 phase, which is a 110 K phase, is oriented along the longitudinal direction as a matrix, while a dispersed superconducting phase mainly consisting of a 2212 phase, which is a 80 K phase, and/or non-superconducting phases is dispersed along the a-b plane in the 2223 phase, so that a magnetic field property of its critical current density is extremely improved. In order to prepare such a bismuth oxide superconductor, performed are the steps of preparing raw material which is based on a 2223 composition in. Bi--Sr--Ca--Cu or (Bi,Pb)--Sr--Ca--Cu in relation to blending/composition, consisting as a superconducting phase of mainly a 2212 phase and non-superconducting phases in relation to the crystal structure, covering the raw material with a metal sheath, and performing deformation processing and heat treatment on the composite.

Abstract: A holder (1) provided with a spirally extending groove (2) is prepared and an oxide superconducting wire (3) is arranged in the groove (2) to be heat treated, so that each portion thereof is not bonded to another portion during the heat treatment.

Abstract: Electrical conductors and methods of producing them, where the conductors possess both high strength and high conductivity. Conductors are comprised of carbon steel and a material chosen from a group consisting of copper, nickel, silver, and gold. Diffusion barriers are placed between these two materials. The components of a conductor are assembled and then the assembly is subjected to heat treating and mechanical deformation steps.

Abstract: In order to prevent expansion of a metal sheath which is heat treated in order to form an oxide high-temperature superconductor therein, the heat treatment temperature is held at a certain level in an intermediate stage of temperature rising in a step of heat treating the metal sheath after filling raw material for an oxide high-temperature superconductor into the metal sheath. After the heat treatment temperature is thus held at the certain level, the metal sheath is again heated to a target temperature. Preferably, the heat treatment temperature is held at a level which is selected in a range of at least 500.degree. C. and not more than 750.degree. C.

Abstract: A process for producing coherent twin, incoherent twin, low angle tilt, high angle tilt or CSL grain boundaries in materials is described. A planar material or a planar substrate coated with the polycrystalline material is heated in selected areas so as to provide a temperature gradient in the substrate. The temperature gradient is sufficiently large and maintained for a sufficient time so that preferential nucleation occurs and recrystallization in the plane of the polycrystalline material takes place such that coherent twin, incoherent twin, low angle tilt, high angle tilt or CSL boundaries between chains of grains growing along lines of equal temperature are produced.

Abstract: A method for making triniobium tin superconductor with improved critical current density is disclosed where an annealed niobium-base substrate is passed through a tin alloy bath containing tin, copper, and bismuth, to coat the substrate with tin and then annealing the coated substrate to form triniobium tin superconductor. A tin alloy bath containing up to twenty weight percent copper and up to one weight percent bismuth is disclosed.

Abstract: In a method of preparing an oxide superconducting wire comprising the steps of filling up raw material powder for an oxide superconductor in a metal sheath and rolling the same in this state, frictional force on surfaces of rolls employed for rolling is increased in the rolling step in order to improve denseness of the raw material powder, thereby improving the critical current density of the oxide superconducting wire. In order to increase the frictional force, films having large frictional force are formed on the roll surfaces, a coating material is applied to the roll surfaces during rolling, or the roll surfaces are roughened, for example.

Abstract: In order to prevent expansion of a metal sheath which is heat treated in order to form an oxide high-temperature superconductor therein, the heat treatment temperature is held at a certain level in an intermediate stage of temperature rising in a step of heat treating the metal sheath after filling raw material for an oxide high-temperature superconductor into the metal sheath. After the heat treatment temperature is thus held at the certain level, the metal sheath is again heated to a target temperature. Preferably, the heat treatment temperature is held at a level which is selected in a range of at least 500.degree. C. and not more than 750.degree. C.

Abstract: An electromagnetically stable Nb.sub.3 Al multifilamentary superconducting wire having a high current density at a high level of magnetic field such as 20 tesla is provided by cold drawing a composite multicore consisting of a large number of Al or Al alloy core and a Nb matrix into a multifilamentary wire, and then dipping the multifilamentary wire into a molten metal bath to coating the periphery of the wire with the molten metal for providing electromagnetically stabilizing the wire. The molten metal bath is provided within an inert gas sealing chamber.

Abstract: Process for increasing the density and improving the homogeneity of Chevrel phase powders and Chevrel phase wire obtained using said process. Chevrel phase powers are compounds of lead, mobydenum, and sulfur. Metallic additives in the range of 0.5% to 20% by weight are introduced in the Chevrel phase powders by a physical or chemical process. The melting temperature of the metallic additives is lower than the synthesis temperature of the Chevrel phase powders so as to increase the homogeneity. The wires obtained using this process are capable of generating high magnetic fields.

Abstract: In a method of preparing an oxide superconducting wire comprising the steps of filling up raw material powder for an oxide superconductor in a metal sheath, performing first rolling in this state for working the metal sheath into a tape, performing first heat treatment, then performing second rolling and further performing second heat treatment, diameters of rolls employed for the second rolling are larger by at least 5 cm than those of rolls employed for the first rolling, in order to improve the critical current density of the as-formed oxide superconducting wire over its longitudinal direction.

Abstract: A Type II superconducting alloy which is superconducting at a predetermined high magnetic field is prepared by creating a composite having a periodic arrangement of at least two transition metals so as to provide numerous interfaces between the different transition metals including niobium, titanium, zirconium, vanadium, hafnium, and tantalum, and alloys thereof. The combination of transition metals is such that one of the metals will serve as a second phase when the layers are subjected to temperatures which would produce a two-phase equilibrium state from a solid solution alloy of the transition metals. The composite is mechanically reduced and heated to cause interdiffusion of the transition metals to form ductile superconducting alloy zones at the interfaces of the transition metals.

Abstract: Artifical pinning centers are provided in normal metal layers adjacent to a type II superconductor layer produced by reacting two normal metal layers. The transverse thicknesses of the final superconductor and normal metal layers are less than about 1000 A.degree.. Planar layers of metal which are to provide a multilayer wire whose layers are parallel. A plurality of the multilayer wires are combined to produce a multifilament superconductor, the layers in all the individual wires being parallel to each other.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for improving the springback qualities of superconductors. According to the method, a superconducting wire is in the final stage of production cold worked with a minimal reduction, in which case the springback qualities are improved but the residual resistivity ratio RRR still remains sufficiently high.

Abstract: A superconducting tape is fabricated with a composition of Bi.sub.1.81 Pb.sub.0.43 Sr.sub.1.71 Ca.sub.2.14 Cu.sub.3 O.sub.x. The powder of composition is filled into a silver tube and the silver tube is processed by rolling or pressing into a thin tape. The thin tape is heat treated and pressed for several times until the superconducting phase is formed to the tape and the thickness of the tape is equal to or less than 0.07 mm. The resulting tape is highly flexible such that it can be bent into an arc with a very small radius of curvature and nonetheless provide high critical current density.

Abstract: A superconductor which is superconducting of a predetermined high field and low temperature is formed by combining a plurality of metal bodies to form a composite structure. The metal bodies are selected from transition metals such as niobium, tantalum, zirconium, hafnium and vanadium, and alloys of such metals, alternate bodies being formed of ductile alloys of the metals which are not superconducting at the predetermined high field. The alternate bodies of transition metals are reacted to form a ductile superconducting ternary alloy zone at the interfaces of these bodies. The extent of the reaction is limited so as to maintain areas of transition metal and transition metal alloys which are not superconducting at the high field. The composite structure is reduced sufficiently that each non superconducting zone is less than 1000A.degree. thick and serves as an artificial pinning site for each adjacent superconducting zone.

Abstract: In a preferred form of the invention, a superconductor is produced by the steps of combining a plurality of layers of metal sheets to form a composite structure. The sheets are pure transition metals--niobium, titanium, zirconium, or vanadium, alternate sheets being formed of different transition metals. The resulting composite structure is mechanically reduced sufficiently so that each transition metal sheet is less than 1000 .ANG. thick. In the course of reduction, the composite is subjected to sufficient temperatures for sufficient times such that the transition metal layers are partially reacted to form a ductile superconducting material between the transition metal layers. Approximately one half by volume of the transition metal layers remain unreacted. These unreacted layers afford efficient flux pinning within the composite when the layers are reduced to the <1000.ANG. final size. In other embodiments, powders and filaments can be used instead of initial layers.

Abstract: A method for producing a superconductor includes the steps of combining a plurality of metal bodies to form a composite structure, metal bodies being selected from transition metals such as niobium, tantalum, titanium, zirconium, hafnium and vanadium, alternate bodies being formed of different transition metals to form triplets. The transition metals are reacted to form a ductile superconducting ternary alloy at the interfaces of these triplets of metals. The extent of the reaction is limited so as to maintain areas of pure or nearly pure transition metal along with the superconducting ternary alloy in at least one of each triplet of transition metals.

Abstract: In the present invention, a superconductor is produced by the steps of wrapping a plurality of layers of metal sheets around a support to form a composite structure. The sheets are pure transition metals-13 niobium, titanium, zirconium, or vanadium, for example--alternate sheets being formed of different transition metals. The support may be composed of any ductile metal. The resulting composite structure is mechanically reduced sufficiently so that each transition metal sheet is less than 1000 .ANG. thick. In the course of reduction, the composite is subjected to sufficient temperatures for sufficient times such that the transition metal layers are partially reacted to form a ductile superconducting material between the transition metal layers. Approximately one half by volume of the transition metal layers remain unreacted. These unreacted layers afford efficient flux pinning within the composite when the layers are reduced to the <1000 .ANG. final size.

Abstract: A Type II superconducting alloy is formed into a wire by extruding a billet of the alloy encased in a copper extrusion can. The extrusion can may include a nose and a tail section having a k factor equal to or greater than that of the body of the core. The nose section may also have a convex inner transverse surface, while the tail section has a concave inner transverse surface. The nose and tail section may be formed of a copper alloy which is of equal or greater stiffness than the alloy of the body of the core. Alternatively, a multifilament wire may be formed by extruding a billet composed of a plurality of separate superconducting wires encased in a copper extrusion can. The nose and tail section of the can may be modified as for the aforementioned monofilament billet.

Abstract: A method for torch cutting metal walls by burning powdered metals admixed with a gas oxidizer to establish a pre-heat flame at a cutting zone and followed by continuously adding a gas cutting agent for intensifying said flame cutting through the metal wall by burning and melting, and an apparatus to implement this method and which locates a body to the wall to be cut and carries and advances a torch over said wall with the discharge of said powdered metals and gases for preheat and followed by the continuous addition of said cutting agent for continuous cutting of the wall, and all of which is adapted to remote underwater operation within steel casings and over steel plate, as well as through other metals and materials.

Abstract: A templet for cutting patterns in pipe with a torch includes a tube that is axially split into hemicylindrical segments. The segments are biased together in alignment with a coil spring. The segments are spread apart by squeezing attached handles together. A wide flat face transverse the tube wall at each tube end, defines a pattern. The flat face is formed by the tube wall and a coextensive flange. The tube covers and protects portions of the pipe to be retained and exposes the portion to be cut away. To make a cut, a flat-sided collar near the torch tip is positioned flush against the flat face. The flat face is angled to the tube wall so that a cutting axis of the torch will be oriented at a desired angle to a pipe telescoped within the tube.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for cutting a series of patterns spaced along the length of a tubular member (e.g. drill collar). A cutting torch is positioned and manuevered within the bore of the pipe so that all cutting is done in an inside-to-outside direction. All slag formed by the cutting action is blown away from the pipe and does not collect within the pipe bore as in previous cutting operations of this type. Further, since there is no cross-wash of the torch, there is no substantially no heat buildup in the pipe during cutting which allows proper preheating of the pipe thereby alleviating cold cuts in the pattern.